The Cracked Acorn: Backup

Yes! I still remember the morning at work when I put a disk into my computer and hit the re-format; the computer came back with a message, “Do you want to do this?” I did not stop to consider it but replied, “Yes!”  To my horror, I realized that I had given the computer the freedom to do its thing; there was no way  I could stop its journey to re-format the main drive and erase everything I needed for the day.

What if you were a soldier on the front line, and every time you needed to fire your rifle, it misfired?  If you were a parachutist, and every time you jumped from the aircraft, the main parachute failed to bloom above your head, always going to the emergency chute, barely able to reach the ground safely.

This would be pretty discouraging and you would soon be a jangle of nerves. Always living to splurge extra money for a better auto or a household appliance that goes when you hit the button.
It all adds up to you wanting to relax for a few hours and doing things to make that happen.

One can repair or replace to seek the best of mechanical servants, but what can we do when those intangible cords that bind one to others are cut or endangered?

Importantly, you and I could be like the soldier with the ‘not so good gun’ or the parachutist who thinks all chutes have holes, but smiling, knowing the emergency chute will always bloom and
save one’s life.  Living eternally in a sea of jeopardy!

Historically, people have found ways to adapt and overcome challenges, even when faced with insurmountable odds. A century ago, flying across the country was a fantasy, yet today it is commonplace.

As we navigate the uncertainties of modern life, whether technological failures or personal challenges, it’s important to remember that just as every parachutist trusts in their emergency chute, we too can find security and confidence, knowing there are always backups and safe havens. These supports not only help us manage our mechanical and digital tools but also guide us in strengthening the fragile bonds that connect us to others.

In these moments of vulnerability, finding a “rock of refuge” is crucial, much like the one mentioned in A.M. Toplady’s hymn, “Rock of Ages.” (Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide my self in Thee: …Be of sin the double cure,  Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r. (Be my rock of refuge. – Psalm 31:1-5). This rock symbolizes a source of strength and stability, something—or someone—that can offer protection and reassurance amidst chaos.

Embracing this mindset allows us to live fully, not in fear of potential failures, but with confidence in our ability to face and overcome them.