When black and white televisions began populating America’s homes in the 1950’s a great concern arose that society was becoming reclusive as people abandoned their front porches where neighbors had once gathered on summer evenings and retreated to their living rooms to be entertained by these new electronic picture tubes.  Yet here it is almost sixty years later and people in our society appear to be as social as ever if not more so.  In fact, the advancement of cell phones and the internet technology seem to have accelerated social interaction rather than diminish it.  

Today computers and cell phones are as common among households as televisions.  In fact, if you are reading this message you are most likely either in front of a computer monitor or staring at some sort of a smart phone or other hand-held device.  Besides, if it were not for modern technology I probably would not have bothered to write it in the first place given the otherwise limited options for getting it published and distributed to an audience of readers.  Now I can do it myself and the whole world has access. 

Just as there was with the advent of television, though, there seems to be some concern that the world is turning into e-everything, that the younger generations have become reclusive and will continue to be more so.  True, their eyes do seem to be glued to their electronic devices just as ours have been with the TV, but humans are social beings and always have been.  Technology is simply a tool for social interaction not a replacement of it.  People still desire face to face contact as they always have.  Starbucks has successfully proven that by creating modern day public houses, neighborhood gathering places that are bustling with people at all hours engaged in social interaction. 

Technology has certainly transformed the world in many ways, brought us closer together as a global society, provided innovative ways to communicate and express ourselves, opened up new markets for commerce and efficient ways to transact business.  But it is only a tool, a tool created by man, and no matter how advanced computers become they will never replace human beings, who were created by God in His own image.  And man, even the brightest and best among us, will never be able to out create God.

As it so often does this time of year the summer heat has descended on Texas with a vengeance with temperatures rising near or above the century mark almost on a daily basis.  Yet here we are, Tee and I, in the midst of all this heat undergoing some major renovations around our house requiring a great deal of physical labor much of which is outdoors.  You’d think we would know better at our age especially since the medical community and the news media consistently caution us about the dangers of these high temperatures and how essential it is that we keep ourselves well hydrated.  They’re right, of course, and I would not begin to speculate how many gallons of water I have consumed in recent weeks, which is probably what has kept me healthy. 

Like the summer heat this extended economic recession - some are now referring to it as the “Great Recession” - has descended on our society with a vengeance with gloomy financial news being reported almost on a daily basis.  And just as we must keep ourselves hydrated during exposure to high temperatures there are certain steps we must take to avoid the dangers of emotional depression and loss of hope that can occur during times such as these.  Here are a few:  (1) Work.  Work tends to beget work, so keep working whether or not you are employed.  If you don’t have a job that pays, volunteer at something.  You’ll be rewarded for it down the road.  (2)  Learn.  Read, study, or take a course in something.  Learn a new skill, a new hobby, new technology, more about the world around you, more about yourself.  It will keep your mind sharp and prepare you for a brighter future.  (3)  Experiment.  This is a great opportunity to be bold and creative, to experiment with new ideas and new methods.  You might be surprised what you will discover.  (4)  Stay fit.  Take care of your health, eat right and exercise.  You’ll have more energy, look better, and feel more confident about yourself.  (5)  Have faith.  Recessions don’t last forever, they never have.  So have faith in what is to come, faith in yourself, and faith in God. 

And when the tide returns - which it will - it will be the ones who have continued to work and kept themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit who will be riding the first big wave.  They always are, and it could be you.

“Go there!” my wife Tee demanded, pointing impulsively to a small handmade sign she spotted at the corner of an intersection while traveling through a small off-the-beaten-path town in rural Tennessee near where we were visiting this past weekend.  The sign read “quilts 2 miles” with an arrow pointing down a narrow country lane.  Being obedient to her command I turned immediately and sure enough about two miles down the road came upon a charming country cottage with a sign announcing “quilts”.  We turned up the gravel driveway lined on both sides with large rose bushes loaded with bright red roses.  At the top of the drive we exited our car and rather timidly tapped on the front door which was answered by a most delightful lady who looked as one might expect an expert quilter to look.  “Do you have quilts?” we inquired, to which she responded yes and graciously invited us into her lovely home.  But once inside we were disappointed in how few quilts she had, only a small sampling of her works.  Then she began to explain how her quilts sold quickly, most before they were made, a credit to her fine reputation as a master quilter.  She shared photos with us of many of the beautiful quilts she had made through the years, taking time to explain the various designs and patterns and how she tediously stitched each small patch of fabric together to create her works of art which often times took months to complete.  Stepping into the next room she showed us her most current work-in-progress, a quilt she casually mentioned that had been commissioned by a lady from Texas where we are from - and then as if speaking to herself almost under her breath she happened to whisper the lady’s name.  You can only imagine the surprised looks on all our faces when we blurted back to her the name she had just whispered as one of our closest and dearest of friend.  What are the chances of such a thing out here on a Tennessee country road, right?  But because of it our whole relationship with the quilt lady suddenly changed - once strangers now friends. 

If you do not believe there are only six degrees of separation between any human being, think again; for this is not the first time such coincidences have occurred with us, chance connections between a close friend and a complete stranger.  It is in such rare moments that strangers are no longer strangers but kindred members of the same human family, created in the image of the same Creator.  Such moments must make God smile, and I suspect it might be a dream of His that we would all see each other that way all the time. 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . .”

- Declaration of Independence 

I’ve been privileged in my own life by having been born into a uniquely stable and loving family, including not only my parents but through a legacy going back for generations.  I was close to all four of my grandparents and had the opportunity of knowing each of them fairly intimately.  I still remember their voices, their personalities and senses of humor, how they moved about, deeds they did and things they said.  I had a chance to see the types of men and women they were, to witness their character.  And even though I did not know my great-grandparents I have heard enough family stories to get a glimpse into their character as well, and even a few things about their parents before them.  

All-in-all I have been blessed by having been born into a great lineage of stable and loving ancestors, a fact that often gives me reason to pause and consider with great humility all I’ve been given, and I then realize that yes all men may be created equal, but not all are born under equal circumstances.  I know this to be true because there are people I encounter almost every day who came into this world under much poorer conditions than I, whether they be financially poor, from an unloving or abusive family environment, or challenged in some way physically, mentally, or emotionally. 

 It is in experiencing such conditions of other human beings that I am reminded of my responsibility toward them, that what I have been given is not mine to keep, but rather to be steward over for the benefit of others.  It is my responsibility to perpetuate the great legacy of my ancestors by providing that same stable and loving environment for my own children and grandchildren.  And it is my responsibility to share what I have with those who are less fortunate, by doing whatever I am able to improve their circumstances in such a way that will provide the opportunity for a better future for them and their families. . . . All men, I believe, are created equal, but it is up to me who has been privileged with much to act responsibly in helping create equal circumstances for others.  And if I do perhaps I am doing my part to make this great democracy continue to work.