LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT

Kitty Kallen was a popular American singer whose career spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s. She performed with popular big band leaders of the 1940s, including Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James, before establishing a solo career.

The songstress may be best known for a song she recorded in 1954, Little Things Mean a Lot. The song was number one in the United Sates for nine consecutive weeks and sold more than two million copies. The lyrics remind us that the “little things” in life make a real difference. A gentle touch, a short note, a smile, a shoulder to cry on. Little things mean a lot.

I recently learned something that is very different from the song of the 50s but illustrates the importance of things that most folks would pay no attention. British scientists used satellite images to look at smudges on the ice of the Antarctic that showed large amounts of guano, or penguin poop. Now to most people that is not important but this “little” observation of bird dropping helps to verify that there are more of the majestic emperor penguins, that breeds in remote areas where temperatures can drop as low as minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, than previously believed.

Little things mean a lot!

Another news story this week supported the idea that “little things mean a lot” in terms of corporate profits. The article focused on the airline industry that has suffered tremendously due to the coronavirus pandemic. The number of passengers has plummeted over the past several months. Airlines have become creative in their efforts to improve the bottom line.

According to one report, airlines have “accelerated digital uptake as carriers look for ways to reduce human touchpoints.” But that push has had another impact, too. It has reduced cabin weight, and that can mean big cost savings. Singapore Airlines’ low-cost carrier Scoot introduced an inflight system that allows customers to use their mobile devices to order food, drinks, duty-free and other services. This move not only reduces paper consumption by more than 156 metric tons, but it will also cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by over 41 tons and save more than 13 tons of fuel.

Technology advances have made it possible for airlines to phase out inflight menus, magazines, and entertainment consoles, which can weigh as much as 13 pounds each. Other ways in which airlines can decrease weight include a reduction of air-sickness bags, lighter food carts and only carrying pre-ordered food and drinks.

COVID-19 has also prompted British Airways to remove printed copies of its inflight magazine and offer it as a free download on passengers’ personal devices. This change trims a significant amount of weight.

Anything that reduces costs in aviation is a good thing. Fuel is one of the largest and most variable expenses for airlines, accounting for almost a quarter of operating costs, and cabin weight is known to have a notable impact on reducing those charges.

In 2018, United Airlines saved $290,000 in annual fuel costs merely by using a lighter weight of paper for its inflight magazine. American Airlines removed just one olive from each salad plate to save $40,000.

Little things mean a lot.

This season there will be many opportunities to help provide for persons who cannot afford a good meal, a warm place to sleep, clothes and gifts for the children. Many worthwhile organizations (and some not so worthwhile) will be making appeals for contributions and other forms of assistance. The needs that are highlighted during the holiday are always with us. We just become more aware at this time of the year.

No one of us can provide for all the needs of our community and world. But we can do something. A gift, no matter how small, can help your church or favorite charitable organization to help bring hope and help to folks who are hurting. Be wise in where you decide to help but give- time, energy, money- appropriate to your resources.

The Bible tells us that much is expected from those who have a lot. But no one exempted from being generous. Even little things mean a lot!

Jamie Jenkins

Thanksgiving and Innovation

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a day to reflect on the blessings of life and to be grateful. The past several months of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus brings us to a different way of celebrating.

Practicing the recommended health safety measures- washing hands, wearing masks, and social distancing- has resulted in major changes to our routines and to the ways we celebrate Thanksgiving. Many families who choose to gather today for the holiday feast will do so in smaller numbers with other limitations. My family and many others will meet virtually thanks to the internet.

There are many examples of innovation in celebrating Thanksgiving Day. My daughter and son-in-law will share a Thanksgiving Day meal with several other couples but they will not all be together. Each family has been assigned a dish to prepare and package for all the others. Then one person will pick up the food and deliver it to each family’s home. All the families will then enjoy the same meal prepared by all of them but they will each be safely distanced in their own homes. This is just one creative way folks have figured out how to maintain traditions but with a twist.

The televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is watched by millions every year on this holiday. The parade will go on today but in a different way. There will be no crowds lining the streets of New York and no bands marching before the crowds. But a number of Broadway theater groups will perform, floats and the giant character balloons will move down the streets for our enjoyment thanks to videos and prior recording.

Another innovation is the Thanksgiving Day Peachtree Road Race. I know, the world’s largest 10K race is usually on the Fourth of July but it was cancelled this year due to the pandemic. So for the first time since its beginning in 1970 the 51^st race will be run today and participants from all over the world will participate virtually.

The church I attend, and thousands of other houses of worship, ceased in person worship several months ago for health and safety reasons. We resumed in-person worship several weeks ago with very limited numbers in attendance and a lot of safety protocols in place. During those months of not being able to gather together physically, the church staff and volunteers did an amazing job of keeping us connected virtually. Worship services, Sunday School classes, Bible Study groups, choirs, outreach ministries, and other experiences were made possible through technology, creative thinking, and hard work.

While we have lost a lot during these past several months, there is still much for which to be thankful. I long for the day when we can once again be close and safe enough to be together and to embrace one another. To gather for sporting events and other major happenings. But on this Thanksgiving Day, among the many things for which I am thankful is the creative and innovative ways we have discovered to function and stay connected. I suspect that we have learned a lot about ourselves during this unusual time and many of the lessons will serve us well in the future.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Jamie Jenkins

NOTHING JUST HAPPENS

 

A new convenience store/gas station opened recently in my community. You see the finished product in the picture above. What the picture does not show is the monumental task of site preparation that was required. It was interesting to watch the transformation of the 8 acre parcel of land between Peachtree Parkway and Technology Parkway.

In the picture above you see a street in front of a 5,000 square foot building and a nicely sloped and landscaped hill in the background. What you don’t see is that prior to the beginning of construction that hill was about 40 feet high straight up and extended to what is now the edge of the new street. On the other side of the new street was a gulch about 20 feet deep which has now been filled in and another building has been erected on it..

The six-month period between groundbreaking and opening was interesting to watch as the hill was gradually reduced, the gulch was filled in and a new street was created. Then the building was constructed and the landscaping was installed.

If you had not seen the site prior to construction, you would have no idea of the scope of the project. It didn’t just happen. Much vision, planning, labor, and money was invested in creating this business location.

I am sure there are many things that I take for granted every day for which I have no idea what was required for them to exist. How much time, energy, and money was invested for my convenience and pleasure. The vision and planning were required to accomplish the goal of providing meaning and purpose for my life. What risks were taken and sacrifices made for my benefit.

I know the new convenience store/gas station is a commercial venture and some folks plan to profit from it but it is an example of the many elements of our lives that don’t just happen. We are indebted to others for the provisions and events of daily lives. People we will never know and the cost to them we cannot comprehend.

Places to shop. Venues for recreation and entertainment. Homes and churches. Streets and highways. Vehicles that enable our mobility. Technology that facilitates communication and provides entertainment and information. Hospitals and clinics that help maintain our health. Institutions of learning. Agencies that govern and protect us. And the list goes on.

They don’t just happen!

Lord, make us mindful of the many gifts that we take for granted.

Jamie Jenkins

 

 

COME AND SEE

A recent incident in a restaurant in south Alabama prompted a call to boycott the burger chain. Supposedly employees of the restaurant refused to serve local police officers. People jumped on the bandwagon immediately.

After a cursory search I learned from a report by the local NBC affiliate in that area that the franchise owners dealt with the incident appropriately and the town’s police department was pleased with their response.

Recently I received an email from a friend that presented a news story allegedly posted by a prominent and respected journalist. The news article was legitimate but it was incorrectly attributed to a person whose name and reputation would have given it credibility with many people.

I remember an incident from many years ago before the advent of the internet. There was an extraordinary story in the newspaper. During a discussion of the information someone suggested that it was not true. Another person spoke up and said, “If it wasn’t  true, it would not have been published.” That understanding was naïve at best and that time and would be absurd now.

In our present world we know that everything we hear or see in print is not true or accurate. It is so easy to reach wrong conclusions based on our biases and the proliferation of information on social media can easily lead us astray. At the same time, it is easy to fact check almost everything.

There is a story in the Bible that can help us. Shortly after Jesus invited Philip to follow him, found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Nathaniel doubted Philip so Philip said, “Come and see.” In other words, check it out before you accept or deny what I have told you. Nathaniel went and verified the news.

The report was accurate. But it was also possible that he might have found the information to be false. It could have been fake news.

In our current environment it is wise to verify the information that we receive whether it confirms or denies our opinions and pre-disposition. Just because someone says it or something is reported in the media does not make it true. With so much rhetoric that has the potential to create divisions among us, it is wise and worth the effort to check it out before we accept and pass it on.

One helpful tool to utilize is Socrates’ Triple Filter Test. Before passing on any information we need first to ask, “Is it true?” That means we might have to do a little work to determine the accuracy of the information.

Secondly, we ask “Is it kind?” Some things may be true but have the potential to do unnecessary harm. To undermine or demonize another person.

Thirdly, we need to ask, “Is it necessary?” Is there a really useful purpose in repeating what we have read or heard or have been told?

These three criteria provide good guidance for accept as fact and what we pass on.

Jamie Jenkins

THANKSGIVING

In my quieter moments I realize how blessed I am. When I think about it I marvel at the richness of my life. Each year has grown better than the last.

On this National Day of Thanksgiving there are more things to be thankful for than I can begin to imagine but below are a few.

I AM THANKFUL FOR…

A warm and dry place to sleep at night.

A safe neighborhood.

Good friends.

My good wife of 50 years (come December 28).

My three wonderful children and their equally wonderful spouses.

My two exceptional grandchildren.

The call of God on my life and God’s willingness to let me serve in the Church.

The opportunity to learn from my mistakes.

The privilege and freedom to vote.

People who allow me to disagree with them without demonizing me.

Teachers.

Clean water.

Retirement.

Good health.

Freedom of religion.

A good sermon- and I hear one every Sunday at my church.

A good church choir- and I hear one every Sunday at my church.

The opportunity to travel and experience this great big wonderful world.

The amazing advances in modern medicine.

Music that entertains, inspires, and instructs.

Technology- when it works.

A reliable automobile that gets me where I want to go.

Folks who do what they say they will do when they say they will do it.

People who say “You’re welcome” instead of “No problem” when I say “Thank you.”

Ice cream.

A winning season for the Braves and Atlanta United.

Coffee in the morning.

Volunteers who serve with no expectation of reward.

The forgiveness of my sins and the grace of God to keep on forgiving.

The following Prayer of Thanksgiving was offered during last Sunday’s worship service. I share it with you today.

Gracious God, creator of all things, you have given us much to be thankful for: this place of worship, the blessings of this day, the world around us.

Apart from you we can do nothing. With you we can do everything. By the power of your Holy Spirit we live and serve you at home, at work, and at play.

We remember how much we have, in the face of a world that says we need more. We are reminded of your graciousness as we see those who go without. Yet in the face of little, you give us much.

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Give us the courage and the strength to put our hands to plow your fields. As we do, help us to remember the laborers who first shared with us the Good News.

As we prepare to gather with family to give thanks and feast upon the blessing s of a day set apart for rest, Bread of Heaven, Water of Life, fill us until we want for nothing. Pour out yourself for us. Let us take, eat, and see that the Lord is good.

With grateful hearts we give thanks. Amen.

Jamie Jenkins

 

LIFE LESSONS FROM TECHNOLOGY

I am going to tell you something about which I know very little. If you want to stop reading now, I understand.

Recently we had some water damage that required moving everything in our home office. Desk, bookcases, and the contents of a closet had to be relocated. It was an inconvenience but we managed alright.

The biggest problem was disconnecting all the electronics that we depend on. This involved our computer and related equipment. We have a wireless network that requires a modem and router. Additionally, our phones are connected through a device that routes our calls over the internet. This allows us to have a “home” phone without the high monthly expense that usually accompany it.

I also have a desktop device into which I scan receipts, business cards, and other documents and it stores them in digital files. Complicating matters even more is the fact that the cell phone reception in our house is abysmal without a device called a Microcell. This device furnished by our cell phone provider boosts the frequency to allow use of mobile phones inside the house.

You have probably concluded from my explanation above that I am somewhat technologically impaired. Nevertheless I managed to move all this equipment and maintain functionality over a several week period while the damaged flooring and walls were repaired.

Then came the happy day that all the repairs were completed and we could put everything back in place. It was going to be a bit of work but I had done so well with moving everything without losing connectivity. I was not worried. I should have been!

The web of gadgets, wires, USB ports, Ethernet cables, coaxial cables, power supplies and connections to a modem, router, CPU, monitor, etc. complicated by multiple user names and passwords presented quite a challenge. Eventually everything was reconnected properly but I could not get connection to the internet. After calling my ISP (I threw that in just to appear smarter than I am), the customer support person on the phone told me her equipment showed that I had a strong signal. She could not understand why I was not connected. The only thing left was to schedule a technician to come to my house. After agreeing to a time for the on-site tech support I hung up the phone and stomped around the house (this was not the first time during this process) in complete frustration.

After a while of fussing and fuming I realized that there was one thing I had not done. What harm could it do? Maybe it would work. So I re-booted my computer. Turned it off, waited 20 seconds and then turned it back on. Voila! I am a genius! Everything began to work exactly as it should.

Later (much later) I realized that the same thing probably happens in life, not just with electronics. Problems arise. Difficulties come. All my efforts fail to produce the desired results. Frustration sets in and I behave in very unseemly ways. I try everything I know and things don’t get better. The harder I try the more negative feelings take over. Why can’t I learn to stop? Step away. Shut down. Re-boot.

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. That might mean a vacation or just going outside for a walk or a quiet moment. Disengaging from the task at hand can clear your mind and calm your nerves. Simply taking a break can give a different perspective and help to maintain or regain balance in one’s life.

When things are not going well, the psalmist encourages us to “be still,” to “quiet down before God (and) be prayerful before him” (Psalm 37:7). Re-boot!

Jamie Jenkins

 

 

 

STAYING IN TOUCH

As I write this I have been without television, internet, and phone service for 7 days. No Braves baseball, no webcam with the grandkids, no email, and no phone calls. Communication with the outside world has been cut off- unless I leave the house and go somewhere that has wifi.

It is a long story but the simple explanation is that a week ago we experienced a power surge at our home that disrupted normal life. The culprit was an underground device that regulates the voltage coming into the house. Light bulbs broke, one light fixture exploded, the oven quit working, two air condition units ceased cooling, my computer crashed, the internet router died, the coffee maker is dead, and a few other minor problems occurred.

The internet service provider is supposed to be here tomorrow- the fourth one that has paid us a visit. I am hopeful that everything will be back to normal by the time you read this. But who knows.

This has been a frustrating week. Yeah! It has been a stark reminder of how much we/I depend on technology to be able to stay in touch and how helpless I feel when the devices fail.

I don’t use pen and paper as often as I did in the “olden days.” So simple things like preparing a Sunday School lesson, a funeral eulogy, and writing a letter seemed almost impossible. My research for a series of upcoming classes was locked away in the metal box that houses the hard drive of my computer. It was complicated to make an appointment for service personnel to assess the damage and make repairs.

Under the best of circumstances communication is complicated. Words have different meanings to different people and at different times. Tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, environment, and a myriad of other factors make it difficult for accurate information and feelings to be shared. Effective communication is extremely important and incredibly complex.

I am glad that communication with God is not that hard. You don’t need any devices. Sometimes not even words (Romans 8:26). Our thoughts and intentions are known by God (Acts 15:8) so we don’t have to learn any technique or a new language. We can have confidence that our prayers are heard and, when offered with faith, are answered (Matthew 21:22).

 

The lyrics of an old gospel song has a simple message about how to communicate with God. “Jesus on the mainline, tell him what you want” suggests that the Lord is “on call” and you could just relay your needs to Him. Simple, huh?

Although all our conversations with God should not be about “what we want,” talking to God is that easy. We can use our everyday vocabulary because God understands our language.

However we do it, we need to stay in touch with each other and with God.

Jamie Jenkins

ADVANTAGES AND EXTREMES

Safety officials and medical professionals report that pedestrian accidents are becoming more common leaving many people with bruises and lacerations. This phenomenon is not the result of encounters with automobiles but with other pedestrians. As more folks are walking without looking where they are going collisions occur frequently on the sidewalks and in shopping malls.

The increased use of hand held devices have increased the likelihood that people bump into each other more often. Serious, and not so serious, injuries are on the rise. A recent three-person accident on a busy sidewalk resulted in the one of the most serious incidents. A young man playing Pokemon Go collided with a woman talking on her cell phone and a couple who were taking a selfie. Each of the injured blamed the others for being careless.

The Washington Post recently carried a story about another fairly new health hazard. It reported that “text neck is becoming an epidemic and could wreck your spine.” According to a study published in Surgical Technology International, when the neck bends forward the weight of the human head on the cervical spine increases. This is the burden that comes with staring at a smartphone which millions of people do for hours every day.

According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, Kenneth Hansraj, chief of spine surgery at New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, says “the poor posture can lead to early wear-and-tear on the spine, degeneration, and even surgery.”

A national chain of physical therapy clinics reports that more teens than ever are complaining of “text neck,” or back and neck pain that can only be explained by the strain on the body caused by constant viewing of hand-held technology. “We have teens experiencing the same shoulder, neck and back pain usually felt by people 30 years older,” said physical therapist Megan Randich.

One of the two stories above is an exaggerated fabrication to call attention to our attachment (addiction?) to portable technology. The other is a factual report of a medical issue that is fairly new among us. You can verify the authenticity of the information on “text neck” and you can only imagine that the reported pedestrian collisions are only slightly theoretical.

The intent of this writing is not to emphasize the negative aspect of technology. My purpose is simply to accent the potential downside to the wonderful advantages of cellphones, tablets and other devices. There are many pros and cons to technology, like almost anything else. Even things that are essential to life (food, exercise, etc.) can be abused and in excess can be harmful. Rest and relaxation, meditation and introspection are as important as our physical activity and human interaction. The real issue is balance. To take advantage of the positive elements and minimize or avoid extremes.

That which is true for physical and mental health is also valid for our spiritual life. We need a balance of belief and action- faith and works (James 2:14-17). What we believe is important but it needs to be balanced by our actions. Whether it is in our service to others or our own self-care, moderation/balance is essential if we are to lead wholesome and holy lives.

Jamie Jenkins

CHANGE AND CHANGELESS

 

I don’t like change.

I am comfortable starting my day pretty much the same way all the time, or at least most of the time. An occasional break from routine is good but before long I want things to get back to normal.

I know that change is sometimes necessary but most of the time I resist it. Once you find a way to do something, why change it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Why mess with something that works? That is the way I am wired, but I realize that my way of doing things is not always the best or only way.

John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” I understand that. It’s just that I am comfortable with most things the way they are. At the same time I understand that progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

 

Although I don’t like change, I am willing, with some reluctance, to alter my routine and try something new. After a while I can even embrace change but it is not easy.

I mentioned in one of my previous writings that I recently acquired an electric vehicle (EV). It is quite different from an internal combustion engine (ICE) automobile in many ways. I was a bit skeptical at first but after almost three months and 2400 miles (with no gasoline) I have been converted. I have come to really enjoy the quiet and comfortable ride. And contrary to what many people think, it is a real car with plenty “get-up-and-go.” I have also contributed to better air quality because it has no emissions.

For several years I have paid my bills electronically through the bank’s online bill pay service. No stamps or envelopes to buy. No checkbook. Beginning in 2015 my church pledge will be charged to my credit card.

In 1925 Mayor Walter A. Sims leased an abandoned auto racetrack and committed the city of Atlanta to develop it into an airfield. The 287 acres of land was renamed Candler Field after its former owner’s family, including Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler. That was the first step that led to Atlanta becoming a major transportation hub. Today it is home to the world’s busiest airport.

I am grateful for the ability to hop on an airplane in Atlanta and go just about anywhere in the world. How else could I visit my grandchildren, and their parents, on the other side of the globe.

My son reminds me that I once said we would never have a cell phone. Why did we need to be able to talk on the phone from anywhere at anytime. Later I succumbed to the advanced technology and purchased my first “bag phone” that was about the size of a small briefcase. And today I won’t leave home without my “smart phone” in my pocket.

Although most of my retail purchases are transacted in a brick and mortar business, I have done my share of shopping online. In fact, with the last four cars purchased I went to the automobile dealer’s showroom only to sign paperwork and pick up the vehicle. Research and negotiation was all done online or by phone.

Email, text messaging and webcams which are a regular part of my routine could hardly have been imagined when I bought my first computer, a Commodore 64. The first video game was Pong, a far cry for the realistic graphics in today’s video arcade.

Just last night I had a conversation with my thirty-two year old son about Roku, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Crackle. If I understood it , I would explain it to you. The digital age has transformed the way we work, play, and relate to each other. It offers far more than I can comprehend.

With all the advances in technology and the changes they bring to our everyday life, I am grateful for the words of the Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada: “We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God.”

We are not alone. We live in God’s world. We trust in God the Creator and Sustainer of all that is good.

Change. Scary. Hopeful.

Jamie Jenkins