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The testing of one’s religion and self worth, I am afraid, is tied up in the computer! I mentioned in an earlier article that my main computer crashed about a week ago. When I say crashed, I don’t mean going haywire…I mean a black screen with a circle and line drawn through the circle. I have never and hope I never see that again! The diagnosis…the hard drive crashed on a year old Big Mac!
Thanks to some wonderful folks in Hattiesburg, Computer Max, my computer was restored as if it were new! Yes, that is wonderful…but, a new computer means every setting must be re-installed.
Part 2 of the story begins. After hours of work, because I can’t remember passwords!, Adobe Photo Shop was downloaded. Next, I need Microsoft Office. A miracle occurs and I find the box with the information concerning Office 365. Following the “instructions,” I go online to began the installation. As soon as I enter the “key” number, these huge red ugly ALERT comes up on the screen. “Don’t try again…call this number”. Well, I always try to mind so I call the number. The guy can’t even begin to speak English. There is so much noise in the background that I can barely hear the dude. Between people coming in my office, the door squeaking, and his “language,” I began to develop a terrible headache. After about 30 minutes he informed me my computer has been invaded by multiple viruses. I’m thinking, this is a “new” hard drive nothing can be on the computer. I continued to do what the guy said and soon he has remote control of my computer. After about 45 minutes, I start getting a strange feeling…something just isn’t right. Through a multitude of hand signals and mouthing, I convey to Michael to call the computer guy in Hattiesburg. Drew in Hattiesburg starts telling Michael this is a scam and to get off the computer. I am frantic by then because this guy has control of my computer. How do I get off??? Drew tells Michael for me to say emergency, emergency! I start screaming. Finally, I am out of the clutches of this guy half way around the world. Drew explains to me that if I do not read what the URL is (that is the actual name of what site you are on) I will continue to be in trouble. He was right…no where was the word “Microsoft” in the URL. Again, I had followed instructions on the box!!! I learned a few more things from Drew, if a site says ALERT, exit off the site immediately. Legitimate sights will not say ALERT. (How was I to know). Microsoft Office can only be downloaded from the actual Microsoft site in the middle of the night! Of course, Microsoft has outsourced that capability and they are a million miles away and only work during the dark USA hours! At 10:30 PM, I began the task of downloading much needed Office. By 12:00 AM, I was rolling. (Not rolling well the next day but rolling with Office). Oh, the problems do not end here. Getting all the settings on the computer where I want them is killing me. I have no idea how to do all that kind of stuff. A village was needed to help me get up and running…and the village is not finished yet. I still am not connected to my printer. My pictures are downloading in gif rather than jpg. Oh, the trials of a computer.
Saying all of this, makes me realize even more how we allow outside sources to control our life and moods. I have not been a happy camper for over a week. Each day a new computer problem creeps into my life. I know better than to allow a computer or phone to wreck my life. I know first hand what can really wreck one’s life. We must strive daily to keep our eyes on God and His work that needs to be done. We must remember what is truly important…and let the other stuff go in our heads. We must look closely at what is wrecking our lives.
In saying all this, if you are having computer problems, I feel your pain. But remember, that pain will go away…true heartache…loss of a love one never leaves. Let’s keep things in perspective. As I beat the computer, scream at the wall, cry a river…none of these emotions change a thing. I didn’t even feel better after acting a fool.
Keep small problems small.
