Gratitude Journal – Day 76 – September 14, 2014

Lightning Fast….
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In today’s world, we talk out of both sides of our mouth. On one hand, we talk constantly about slowing down to enjoy the roses, all the while we expect everything to be available and delivered to us immediately if not sooner. And I must admit that I fall prey to the same as most others. 

So while I’m delighted that I just had the top shelf internet speed installed by AT&T, I also dream of slowing down by spending time on the beach or roaming an abandoned building with my camera to unwind. Hmmm….. that’s not really without something fast is it? myDarlin’ Robert Kenui Pope and I used to take quick trips (not Quik Trip) to relax, ahhhh…. but alas would take a shoulder bag full of technology; the portable Bose speaker, iPhones, iPads, camera…..

So, I am rethinking this – is lightning fast really such a bad thing if it gives us more time to do the things that we want? Today, I found myDarlin’s ‘Zoom’ (camera/audio recorder) in a bag of mixed goodies with items such as Kona blinking hearts from Valentine’s Day, hand knitted bags and Kona beach balls. myDarlin’ would use the Zoom at practice sometimes to record and play back so that the band could refine a song they were working on. Then it struck me, perhaps there was something on the memory card…. I fumbled around and found it, rushing upstairs to download it to my laptop to check to see if there was something on the card. One file, 24 minutes….. and it felt like it took ages to download, but in reality it was only 5 minutes or so. As I double clicked on the file, I fully expected to see a Kona practice, but was so surprised to see him playing… solo.

What a treasure I just discovered! myDarlin’ ‘slowing down to smell the proverbial roses’, singing ballads with his acoustic guitar. And if it weren’t for the wonderful fast technology we have, we would never have that moment captured to enjoy for all time.

Today, someone posted a photo that I’ve seen many times before of a park bench and the caption was: If you could spend one hour on the park bench with someone past or present, who would it be? And my answer obviously has changed to myDarlin’. I want to talk with him, to get a glimpse of the joy he has experienced in his new gig as bass player in God’s House Band and how he watches over and cheers me, all of his children and Ohana on from behind the veil. And I would turn on his ‘Zoom’ perched atop my tri-pod to capture this memory to share with our Ohana.

And as I get ready to order one iPhone 6 instead of what would have been two; I go to the back porch, look up and point my camera into the darkness serenaded by the chirping of a thousand crickets, thinking about how ‘lightning fast’ our lives are in the grand scheme of eternity with our Lord. I am filled with gratitude that the Lord used technology to bring myDarlin’ and I together, and that he continues to surprise me with little gifts such as today’s.

#KeepLookingUp