Dear Ones,
I was speaking with my daughter on the phone recently when the line went dead! A little later I tried to call her back, but had no dial tone. Then I tried on the new cell phone with which I wasn’t very familiar, and I didn’t know whether the lack of success in getting through with that – to anywhere – was my fault, or that of the phone. A little later the dial tone returned and, with some measure of relief, we were able to continue our conversation. On an ensuing call, again, no dial tone! In the meantime, David was expecting an important return call that would affect his day’s activities, so it was a little frustrating to realize he couldn’t be reached by phone. Eventually, I managed on the cell phone to contact Telephone Repair, and was assured that, although they were experiencing difficulties in our area, their technicians were working on the problem in an effort to restore service as soon as possible.
The whole incident turned my thoughts back to my precious grandparents who homesteaded on the Saskatchewan prairie early in the 1900s, and the lack of communication that prevailed in those days: a post-mail letter once or twice a year to/from those at a distance; a bi-weekly or monthly trip into town to obtain basic supplies; a rare visit to or from a neighbor four or five miles away. Or, if the message was extremely urgent, a telegram that might be delivered by horseback. The closest they came to a telephone was the telegraph office in town! I seem to have a vague childhood recollection of my Grandfather experimenting with tin cans at the ends of a long wire strung between his house and my Great Uncle’s house a quarter of a mile away! I was too young to remember whether or not they ever worked. :)
Whatever would we do these days without our modern means of communication? Telephones (with all their variations), radios, televisions, computerized communications, and other technological innovations of which I am unaware; instantaneous connections, not only to the other side of the globe, but incredibly far out into space! On the recent 35th anniversary of the historic 1969 moon-landing, we heard again the voice of Neil Armstrong announce, “The Eagle has landed!” Our grandparents would have been totally overwhelmed with astonishment and disbelief.
My reminiscing also brought to mind an old song we used to sing when I was a child:
Telephone to Glory, O, what joy divine,
I can feel the current moving on the line.
Built by God the Father for His loved and own,
We may talk with Jesus on this Royal Telephone.
I can’t describe the allegory any better than the words of the verses:
”Central’s never busy – always on the line;
You may hear from Heaven almost any time.
‘Tis a Royal Service free for one and all.
When you get in trouble, give this Royal line a call.
“There will be no charges, telephone is free;
It was built for service just for you and me.
He will be there waiting on this Royal line;
Telephone to Glory always answers just on time.
“Carnal interference cannot get control
Of this line to Glory anchored in the soul.
Storm and trial cannot disconnect the line,
Held in constant keeping by the Father’s hand Divine.”
© 1919 F. M. Lehman
It reminds us again of the glorious favor we have of instant, ongoing communication (the privilege of prayer) with our Creator, Saviour and Lord. He invites us to call Him anytime:-
“Call unto Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you know not.” (Jer. 33:30)
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Ps. 50:15)
“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (Ps. 91:15)
How often do you use your Royal Telephone? Instant connections are available to those who make the call. You’ll never get a busy signal, you won’t get an answering machine at the other end, and you won’t be relegated to Voicemail or other automated “choices.”
Together with the Psalmist, and countless others through the ages, “Because He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” (Ps. 116:2) How about you?
“May God, the giver of HOPE,
fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him—
so that you may have abundant HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 Weymouth)
In Agape, Eulene
amen! Thanks be to God! :) God bless you.