Shiloh Baptist Church

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

Psalm 130:5 NRSV

In April, we look forward as Easter is coming. It is the day we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Risen Savior, and it gives us hope to know that He is coming back. That’s why we celebrate.

Recently while surfing the world-wide web, I came across the fact that the internet technology pioneer, Stephen Wilhite, had passed away from COVID-related complications. He was seventy-four years old. I had never heard of him, and while I was sorry to hear of another COVID-related death, I learned that his legacy is the GIF, a game-changer for the world-wide web.

I am a baby-boomer, and I admit that I am technology-challenged, but I have grown to appreciate the unlimited resource that the internet has become in our lives. I don’t pretend to understand Wi-Fi, or any of its related lingo, but I am learning to appreciate its benefits.  

“GIF” is an acronym, which stands for Graphics Interchange Format. Who Knew? It is pronounced “JIF,” and not “GIF,” with a soft “G.” GIFs are short animations that you see in memes, or send in group chats to your contacts. In addition to texting, they have become our new way of expression, and serves us in many ways; eliminating the need to spell out what we are feeling, or what we have to say.

Representing our emotions, (also known as emojis) they are symbolic of our feelings, and when we lack words, GIFs can tell our story, or speak for us. We can now close our sentiments with GIFs. Where for many years our signatory was closing with ‘Very Truly Yours;’ or ‘Sincerely’, we now can sign off with a “smiley face,” or a “heart-filled,” one, among many. Thanks to Stephen Wilhite.

While the COVID Pandemic has gravely impacted how we meet and greet one another in the past two years, in addition to cellphones, the internet has widely become the biggest source of our communication, and information. Encyclopedias and libraries have become almost obsolete. Not to mention, we’re not even actively talking to one another on the telephone. Not to be confused with the cellphone. It’s a horse of another color.

Some people I know have gone so far as to shut down the home-phone, in favor of the mobile or cellphone because you can take them anywhere, even into the bathroom. I have seen people walking down the street with a cellphone, having open dialogue with someone I couldn’t see. With our cellphones, we have access all the time. We can speak to people from our cars, or while waiting on line in the grocery store. It’s simply amazing.

This technology has become not just a source of communication, but it’s our life-line. It’s the way we keep up with what’s happening. It’s the way we learn new things, or confirm old things. Just Google It! It’s the way we get instruction on how to thread a needle, or how to braid hair, or make a banana pudding.

More recently, it has become the way we worship. For two years since the Pandemic, we have been fortunate to have a MAC Team, acronym for Media & Communication Ministry, who help us stay connected. The internet has been a god-send. When we were not able to go to church, we’ve been able to have church at home; and we haven’t missed a beat or have we?

We’ve been able to ‘Zoom-In,’ or ‘Go to Meetings’, for fellowship, Christian Education, Prayer, and Bible Study. While we are grateful for those moments to login, or log on, where we can stay in touch, and keep up with what’s happening in the world, and in our lives, I long for the personal touch. Granted, I will only pick-up the phone when it rings when I can see who it is that’s calling on my television screen, but I long to hear the voice of others and to share in personal conversation.

The Pandemic has created a sense of loneliness, and separation through isolation, that has been lessened by our ability to tap in, or swipe left. And even with the help of technology, I’ve missed the ability to interact, or to ask questions during Bible Study (although I know I can put it in the chat). All-in-all, some would say technology is great. It’s been good to work remotely, (saving gas and travel time) and to meet virtually, and to pray accordingly. I agree, except I desire the personal touch. I, too, long for normal.

I saw a T-Shirt once that said, “Normal isn’t coming back – Jesus is!” and I was encouraged by this simple, but profound message.

We’re all tired of COVID-related deaths, masks, and Pandemic-related situations. For sure, we long for the return to “normal,” and it is our hope that our future will be brighter, better, and more better.

By “Go-To-Meeting,” the women of our church have been studying the Book of Ruth, and it has been very enriching. In my personal study time, I learned that there was a famine in the land of Judah, in the days of Ruth, which sent Naomi and family to Moab. I learned that famine comes in many forms; they represent lack, but they come to pass. In the COVID Pandemic times, mandates are being lifted, people are returning to their offices, and we want things to go back to the way they were, right?

This Pandemic has been our famine. We were in lack before it came, and we are in lack now. Much of who we are, and what we are familiar with was taken away. Do we really want to go back to it?

As we reflect, we must ask, ‘as good as technology is, is it truly the answer, or if Jesus is.’  Selah.

According to scripture, there will never be a day when God will come back on the scene and say, ‘I’ve been rethinking My Book. Some of the truths I wrote about Jesus, well, I need to rewrite. A few of the character traits about Me and some of those doctrines in My Book need to be updated.’

There is no going back. His Word is truth, and His character is without question. We can stand on His Word. Even in times of Pandemic, we are still standing. The Psalmist has said, “For ever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” Psalm 119:89 KJV