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I’m Frustrated With Someone Else’s Computer

We all get frustrated with our computer sometimes, but do you ever get frustrated with someone else’s?

I'm frustrated with someone else's computer

The other day I found myself a little frustrated with a friend’s computer. 

I’m a Mac guy and have been since the late 80’s. I’ve always maintained one computer is not inferior to the other; it is just what you get used to. If you are used to Mac OS, the Windows world seems difficult to navigate. The opposite is true to a Windows’ user and the Mac seems awkward to use. 

For many people it comes down to preference, much like our preference for cars.

I have never owned a Ford automobile and probably never will. My dad never bought Fords and maybe that’s where I got it from. Maybe it’s how they look, maybe it’s a reputation I’ve picked up on, but I don’t want to own one. 

Someone else might tell me I’m nuts, that Fords are the best cars and trucks on the market. It comes down to our preference. 

The thing is, you don’t get frustrated over someone else’s preference. It doesn’t get in the way of you doing what you want or driving what you want to drive.

The other day, however, I was frustrated with my friend’s choice of computer that he uses. 

I am trying to offload some of my responsibilities to other people. I won’t be able to do them forever and I need others to take on some of the things I do at work.

Updating our website is one of those things. 

This task is second nature to me because I’ve been doing it for so long, but to hand this task off well, I wrote out clear step-by-step instructions of what someone would need to do. It was all going to be easy … except that my friend couldn’t do some of the required steps on his computer. 

I have a program that is native to my Mac that edits pdf documents. It is so easy. I can delete pages from a pdf and also save the document to a different file format. I just assumed this could be done as simply on a PC. 

But no, it could not. There was no program that could make the changes to a pdf on his computer. 

I certainly wasn’t going to suggest that he spend a lot of money to buy a program that would work. So I was left frustrated that I still had to do much of the work to update the website. If he worked on a Mac, he could have done what I do. 

But this week I found a work-around. I have sent him to two websites – one website can delete pages from a pdf, and the other can save a pdf to a jpg file. 

I’m hoping I’ll be able to hand the whole operation over to him now. 

Here’s the thing: When you read the Old Testament, there are certain places where you can possibly see God’s frustration with people – in the garden with Adam and Eve, in the days of Noah, and certainly many times with the Israelites. But God didn’t let frustration get in the way of what He wanted – a relationship with us that was unhindered by sin. God’s solution was to send His Son to pay for the sins of the world. Now there is no frustration. We can have an unhindered relationship with God if we place our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The frustration is removed through Christ. 

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What frustration in your life needs fixing? Leave your comments and questions below. 

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It Was A Second Thought That Got Results

My second thought produced success. You know, that’s when you had decided against something, then changed your mind, and it turned out to be the best decision you made.

Recently I bit the bullet and bought a new MacBook Pro. I was about due since my last one was eight years old.

Once my new computer was in my possession, the big task was to transfer all my files, applications and information from my old mac to my new one.

Luckily, Apple has an easy way to do that. Basically you hook up the two computers together and clone the old one on to the new one.

In the end, everything is there – passwords, logins … there’s virtually no other set up to do.

Sounds nice and easy … except my old mac is so old that hooking up the computers is a little more difficult. To make things worse, the new computer has a connection that is not common yet: USB-C.

So I went on a search for the connection I needed. I went right to the store I purchased my new laptop from. I searched the aisles and then had an employee search the aisles. The connection was nowhere to be found.

I tried a second store that was close by and, though the employee was very helpful, he was unable to locate the adaptor that I needed to connect my two computers together.

So I tried a third store. This time I was fairly confident I would find what I was looking for.

This store is not an official Apple Store but it’s the closest thing to it. It even looks like an Apple Store in its set up. And like the official retailer, this place only sells Apple, and Apple-related products.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have the adaptor either. Not only that, but the employee didn’t even know what I wanted to do.

The one place I thought would understand my need offered no help or even knowledge.

I questioned the clerk, “You’ve never heard of Apple’s migration processes?”

He replied, “I’m a law enforcement student.” … interesting information about his future plans but his answer had nothing to do with the question I asked him!

I left the store discouraged and ready to give up my quest for the day.

There was one other store within walking distance, but I figured since they specialized in PC’s they weren’t going to have the adaptor I was looking for.

Besides, if a Mac store didn’t have it, what were the chances?

I started walking in the direction of my car.

But then I had a second thought: “I’m so close to this place, why not just go in and see?”

I walked the three blocks up the street, went in, and within about 30 seconds, spoke to an employee. I told him what I was looking for and he walked me directly to a shelf, reached up to the very top and then handed me my adaptor.

Amazing! … On second thought, I was super happy.

Here’s the thing: When is it the right time to give up on seeking something from God? You may have been asking Him for direction, or a solution, or even a miracle, but so far you’ve received nothing. Is it time when you’re feeling hopeless? … On second thought, your answer might be just around the corner.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What have you almost given up on? Leave your comment below.