I have been sitting here for some time, writing my heart out to you on our new software program. I was telling you about our family’s solution to not having quality time together with our kids, grandkids and great grandkids.
After pouring my heart out for three pages, I was just writing a prayer at the end, when all of a sudden the cursor (and the curser) went wild moving backwards at the speed of light—erasing all my loving vulnerable sharing. I punched every button in sight and hollered for Andrea. By the time she got here, all my work had disappeared. The computer monster had gulped down EVERY WORD without a belch or even a “thank you.”
This is Friday, July 8th, and we have been trying to get caught up from our annual family gathering at a ranch near Bandera (21 of us), and from a surgical procedure I had upon returning (it looks like the Lord has given me another extension-for which I am very grateful—even though I actually forgot all about being grateful when the computer’s word feast began).
The bottom line is that I am exhausted somehow, and simply do not have the energy to rebirth and re-edit that personal document right now. So this will have to be my blog for the week. We will have another one up on Monday or Tuesday (the 11th or 12th).
Andrea and I are sending love and prayers with this note for any of you who have read this far.
Faithfully in our Lord,
Keith
Dear Greta, Thank you for your encouragement. Hope things are going well for you. We’re about to finish a book we’ve spent almost five years writing. (A big book – in terms of pages – almost 1200 right now.) I hope this is a good time for you. – K
Dear Jeanie, Thanks for your encouragment! We love you and are so grateful that God brought the Mileys and the Millers together on his trail. Hope the book does very weel. It should! Love – Keith
Dear JoAnne – Thanks for your encouragement. Hope things are going well with you. – K
Dear Candy, how are you? Hope we can reconnect some time. And our prayers come with this for you and your family–and for your work. Love in Christ – K
Thank you! It was good to see you at St. Matt’s. Hope things are going well for you. We love you. – K
Dear Sarah, Thanks for your encouragement. Peace and grace to you. – K
Thanks for your comment, Alan. Sorry about the sermon – hope it was ‘reborn!’ – Keith
Dear Dick, Thanks for your comment about attending the Festival of Hope conference in Anaheim. I hope things are going well for you. At the request of some young Christians Andrea and I are about to crank up again to see if we can bring some of the hope and peace we are experiencing in the midst of the chaos nationally and internationally. Love in our Lord, Keith
Sorry for your computer’s appetite, but this was just too funny. Especially after a weekend, two hour battle with changing a light switch for me. Nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. Love reading your thoughts each week. By best to you and your family.
Charles Lovett
This has happened to all of us, but we are not all transparent enough oto share with everyone. Thanks for not being perfect and helping me know I don’t have to be pfect, either!
Ive found waiting for motivationalwords from somone you truly respect and like is easier than waiting for one word of praise from someone you don’t !
Keith, thank you that you care so much that you would take time and energy to write about the computer monster. I appreciate your dedication to your friends. Grateful for you and Andrea.
love, carol
just wanted to say thank you for the blog that didn’t get gobbled. it is always a blessing to read your blog and know that you and andrea are there, sometimes when we pour our hearts out it is for us and not others, must have been the case with your gobbled words. love and blessings and thanks to you and your family. tell the others i send love and hello. you all are still on my heart and mind often as is Annelle what cherished lessons i learned in the short time i was with her, you all must have such great memories and growth because of her.
Always debbie stoops
Please rest up and feel better, Keith.
Keith, I think God was telling you to quiet your mind & your body. I totally empathize with you & the computer. When I was in nursing school I was editing my final paper that counted as 1/2 of my grade for the semester. I had just purchased a new computer with Windows Vista (I loved my Win.XP) and somehow clicked on something I should not have & totally deleted my paper. I had my notes left, but only had 2 days to get in “turn in” shape!!! Love your website and I am so grateful that Fr. Scotty Irvin introduced me to your books. We have never met, but the way Fr. Scott spoke of you, I feel like we are friends! I am surely going to miss Scotty! I am sure you know he paswd away in June in Austin.
Blessings to you and Andrea,
Reesie Petree
It is amazing how the enemy loves to disrupt communications. Computer, phones, verbal — whatever. He seems to believe it is his job! Glad you are well and writing. Looking forward to the next installment!
Love to you both, Barbara
You are a blessing to countless numbers of persons everywhere, words or not.
Iris Dement writes a song wherein there are the words, “But as for me, I just prefer to let the mystery be.” Where computers are concerned, this may be the best outlook.
Blessings to your and yours:
A’int technology grand!???
I an an erstwhile lay speaker at our little UMC. Occasionally I get thrown into the breach to ‘fill-in’ preach. One time in the last year or so, I was scheduled to speak, got up `0500 to put the final thoughts down… and when I came in on the way out the door to print it out… the printer had apparently suffered a terminal illness. I had to wing it …’twas a short sermon… and our new pastor showed up unexpectedly. It’s a good thing I wasn’t ‘carrying concealed’ when I tried to print.
I can only hope God has a special grace for those of us tech’ deprived.
thanks for being there.
Jesse
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! Always love the human that you are, Keith! Much love to you and Andrea!
Pat
Bless you, brother! My cursor has done things like that to me, too (maybe that’s why they call ’em ‘cursors’?!?) It is indeed a horrible thing to watch. You made the right decision to take a break and come back to it later. Bless you as you rest up!
Your weekly blogs are such a gift.I will take them whenever you feel like writing.You deserve time to rest and heal.Thank you for your ministry.
Keith — I have such empathy for you concerning losing the work you’ve carefully put on the computer screen. It’s so frustrating! Technology works great — when it works! I want you to know that I am so thankful for the influence you have had in my life since I first started this adult phase of my spiritual journey ‘way back when I first heard you speak at Baylor University in 1964. Thank you for your faithfulness to your work — and for the gifts you and Andrea both have given to me. I love you both dearly.
Am glad you are feeling better. I always enjoy your thoughts on Christian living. Jo
Sometimes there just are no words….I hope you and Andrea have a wonderful weekend.
Peace:)
Bless you. Surely, giving time its space, you will come up with or upon something even greater than the thoughts that vanished before your eyes. Surely HE has something better in mind for you and which those of us that follow you need. I look forward to that moment for us all.
Love,
Anna Maud Dodge
Peace to you. Grace and peace. Be well.
We can wait a week. Quite a while ago as I finished up a sermon [without saving], I saw a flash of lightning outside and my screen went off, came back on and low and behold the sermon was gone.
I couldn’t help but think, “If you didn’t like it God just say so.”
Peace brother.
Alan
Just want you to know that by attending the Festival of Hope in Anaheim, CA. back in the 70s you and Bruce, Loyed, and John changed the whole ourse of my ministry. Just want to thank you. Dick