During my junior high and high school years, I would go down in the basement and see our first television sitting in the corner. It doesn’t take much to remember when we first received this black and white wonder. The picture was fuzzy but it was our first real electronic marvel. At certain times of the evening, someone would have to stand near the antenna. We learned quickly that the body is a great signal booster for the television, so I watched a lot of the programs from a close angle as one hand held the end of the antenna to get the best signal. I recall Dad having something to say if I moved too much and made the picture go fuzzy.
Soon Dad discovered that a copper wire that was twisted to the top of the rabbit ear antenna and strung to the outside gave the best reception. Some of you may remember late in the evening when the stations would sign off. They would always play the “Star Spangled Banner” with an American flag waving in the breeze and then place a symbol on the screen with a continual hum. Our first color television did not have tint but rather a red, green, and yellow knob called “Technicolor”. Each program required you to turn the knobs in order to get what was called color television. If the signal was not strong the picture would move from black and white to color to a fuzzy mixture of color mixed with black and white. Nevertheless we thought it was great. Fast forward 50 years and we were looking at purchasing the next generation of television. There are so many questions as to what is best: Plasma, HD, 3D, LCD, 16 x 9, 4 x 3, digital vs. analog. Mercy, I am confused.
Even after getting on the Internet and searching for what is the best picture for the best value, I just stand in front of the screens in the store with my mouth open. The high definition screens allow these old eyes to watch a baseball game like I was there in the stands. Add surround sound and I am awestruck. Even though it was comfortable in past years to just have color television I have realized that maybe it’s time to catch on to the next level.
Living in the mountains of Tennessee, I love the slow life that the area affords. Many places and events remind me of the days gone by when life was simple. For the longest time I have looked forward to retiring and just “kicking back” to doing nothing. Shame that is not me and so I keep going hard each day.
Last year, we went to a local high school football game. There over 1000 young people mingled among themselves, like they were lost. They were there just to have something to do.
We are seeing so many churches that are just like the age of television. Some enjoy the black and white era of only anthems and dirges, while others have gone to simple hymns and gospel melodies. Still others try to mix the old and the new together. The problem is that they just don’t reach today’s and tomorrow’s generation.
Have you ever had the Lord show or tell you something and you respond, “Lord you really don’t want me to get involved, I just don’t fit in?” The Lord’s response is always, “Trust me. Catch up and hang on”.
Lynnette and I are looking forward now, even in our future years of being high definition people who strives for an impact to changing lives, even in a little mountain community, particularly to a generation that has nothing to do.
Maybe it’s time we all catch up to what the Lord is asking us to do. Don’t think about retirement, but run this race of life hard. Give your life away to others and the Lord’s work every day. Why? "For the sake of the call" (song by Steven Curtis Chapman).
No matter what your age, catch up to being a high definition person to others.
Luke 12:19-21 I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life! Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barn full of goods - who gets it?' That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.
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