Author Ruth Smith Meyer

A few weeks ago a busy part of the world came to a standstill--at least where air transportation was concerned.  It affected many of the rest of us too.  A young bride-to-be had booked a flight so she would arrive at just the right time, but the wedding day came closer and closer, and she wasn't able to be there.  What is a wedding without the bride?  There was no substitute way for her to make it in time.

Parents of a young family asked grandparents to come baby-sit for five days so they could visit England on business.  That stretched out to ten days.  The granparents felt quite capable of five days, but as time went on they grew more wearied of keeping up with all the activities of teen and pre-teen students.  The worried parents investigated driving to Italy to get a flight from there, but had they been able to afford it, the necessary transportation to that destination was not available either. 

Many people, not just those stranded by the volcanic ash, began to realize how dependant we are on air travel and precise scheduling.  It isn't just travel that is affected, but food supplies, mail, goods and much  more.  Life as we know it would change in many ways if planes could no longer fly. 

Just following this world episode, my computer took a bit of a temper tantrum.  I am so used to pressing a few buttons and being in touch with my friends, my colleagues, my work, my creativity, instantaneously.  Again I became aware of how dependent I am on that little device no larger than the binder I used to carry to high school way back when.

My calendar, which keeps me from forgetting most of my scheduled activity was hidden in the depths of my computer. The talk I was to give on Saturday morning was ensconced in its catacombs.  The poem and its introduction that I was to read at the launch of Grandmothers' Necklace in Kitchener Saturday afternoon wasn't printed out.  I was keenly aware of the truth  that as I have often jokingly said, "Half my mind is on my computer!"

The planes eventually did fly again and life settled down to a semblance of normalcy.  My son came to my rescue, walked me through several tries until (YEAH!) we got those documents back again.  But in the mean time, I had a bit of fun wondering how most of this generation would get along if suddenly we were back to the restrictions of say, 200 years ago.  There would most certainly be  a painful relearning of basic living.

In all this musing, my heart became thankful for the One who said he is the same yesterday, today and forever!  And thank God, because of the Man of Sorrows, I know him intimately, for he is my Rock and Redeemer!