December 28, 2023 | Blog Entry | Stacey Britton
Unplug the OLD, Plug in the NEW
Before the new year and at the turning point of this website I am beginning year eleven of this writing journey. Part of that beginning means I have changes that need to take place in my own life. New priorities, self reflection, turning away from the old things that damage my soul to begin evaluating the separation of wants and needs for a healthy and fruitful life. I’m 61.6 years old. Do I have 30 more years to live? Will I only last one more night? I don’t know, and really no one can predict their future, so it is in this mindset that I want to take a close look at the areas that need to re-set with a future HOPE towards each day, each moment – as a gift.
The picture posted here is one headwater way for Salmon where they come home to their beginning, lay their eggs and then their life cycle is done. Some don’t make it back, others are caught right before they lay their eggs, and some end up giving their life to supply another with food for their own life journey. There are also those that die from the natural obstacles along their difficult trip.
In Philippians 3:14 (Bible) Paul, a follower of Jesus, a writer of the freedom through belief in Jesus’ name expresses this same point this way, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Life is a journey we all have for we are all eternal beings, after earthly death some of us will end up in Heaven as Jesus followers and others will not. Who are you following?
Unplugging the OLD and Plugging in the NEW – one place to start…
I have an ancient Mac laptop, tastefully, or not so tastefully 🙂 protected by a light pink protector which matches my light pink desk cover which matches my pink mouse accompanied by rose colored metal pencil holders, organizers and, as you can probably tell – I was in a ‘pink/rose’ phase. Good grief, what a desk I have !
Back to the point – My ancient laptop no longer has the memory or capability to update to the latest Chrome version, Google won’t accept her as she is, and along with the really cool pink colored touchpad fingering cover, I indeed need to unplug the ol’ gal and start using what I already have that is a bazillion times ‘way cooler’ than the old lady, my ancient writing friend.
This morning I unplugged the power block, rolled up the cord, placed the pink covered Mac back inside the pink fabric carry case – but I haven’t zipped it shut – yet. You see, there are many files on that computer and even though I can’t really access the document forms I need, nor quickly access guides that add in new writing projects, part of me still resides in that computer partner.
I unplugged her and I plugged in my new writing partner, it’s not the same, it’s different, upgraded, faster, ‘way more’ memory, the touch of the keypads are even amazingly a perfect fit for my hands. In so many ways the upgrade is better, I’m the one that needs to plug into the new and just stay there. Dwell in the new, let the old keep it’s perfect place in the past and move on not held back by the past. Unplug. I know I the ‘cloud’ all things are shared if I want – but the ‘cloud’ is past my sweet pink friend.
Unplugging for me means learning new ways to accomplish new tasks with the foundation of the old being informed by the new formats and styles. I need to build upon a firm foundation and embrace the new, fast growing creativity found in the virtual world. Unplugging doesn’t mean I throw away what has gone before, it means I embrace it’s wisdom and literally plug in the new computer iPad given to me by someone that knew I really needed it. Even though I received the gift with great joy, even though I said I would use it – it took my pink partner becoming totally outdated and unusable in it’s present form, to help me, force me, to unplug the old and plug in the new.
Honestly, I’m wondering why it has taken me so long to transition, to believe the new way would be better and more enjoyable, as well as add a new learning curve to challenge me in the process – something I also didn’t realize I needed.
The world of tech is crazy fast, ever changing, and quite frankly a bit intimidating when you are a bit behind in literal and figurative updates. It takes time to update, upgrade, stay updated and stay upgraded – a daily habit – and one that if you get behind – the natural consequences mean you can fall into the category of the ‘behinder you get’ when you stay plugged into the OLD instead of embracing the NEW. 🙂
Leaving the past ‘behind her’ (ugh) and pressing toward the hope laid before me I’m beginning year eleven with new hope, and a faster computer partner. But something more important than a computer, writing or even posting is my life in Jesus, a gift worth giving is pointing the way towards Jesus.
A Jesus Follower – Stacey