Thought for The Day - The Voice on the other End

...of the Line

....the text

....the IM

....the Prayer

It's apparent our tools are useful. Our tools allow distance to be bridged with sparks and whispers of electricity. We can hear, see and as such, we remain in contact.

Goodbye can have such finality. My mom wouldn't allow us to say it when we left for the day; she told us to say "see you later." She said "goodbye" was almost a way of ensuring we would leave one another (somehow) and never see one another again. And yet, the idea isn't a bad one. The years have brought many friends into my life, mostly through Church or Work environments. And many have seemingly gone away, never to be heard from again. But others remain a phone call, text or Facebook messenger away.

Physicality and proximity...nothing like it! My daughter lives in New York, my son attends school in Missouri. And certainly we talk on the phone and through text often. We have a family chat where it's like having them sitting around the kitchen table again. But nothing is like having family, friends and close associates present and for more than a few minutes!

Thought for The Day - Quick Note about Technology

Us and tools! As much as I admit I'm in "recovery" as an artist - and I really am - I actually get some things done creatively and would be willing to share them. But I am equally frustrated with technology! Trying to get  quality images uploaded here and other social networks, the "experts" suggest using a digital camera, rather than my phone camera. Actually, the camera on my phone is pretty good, but that's beside the point! I'm trying to be a professional, here! Then there are the recommendations to put the image in certain format, that I have yet to do. And here recently, an unexpected update in my iPhoto software nearly trashed all of my images, making it nearly impossible to access the pictures of my work - and everything I've ever digitally photographed!

And that brings us to the "quick note" about technology. It's a tool, pure and simple. It's a level above hammers, chisels, screwdrivers and pliers. It's a small step above the sewing machine and crochet and knitting needles. And for those who skipped over those basic tools in favor of laptop keyboards or the digital keyboards on a tablet or iPad, the rudimentary tools mentioned above can be equally frustrating! It's rare, but I've seen people break hammers, pliers get stuck open or bend and thread completely clog a sewing machine. It is the woes of attempting to accomplish something, to make meaning in this world!

You know what? No matter the technology or the tool, the joys and pains go along with the journey to finding meaning and purpose in our world. And it is a long and arduous journey to that end!