Little Things Do Matter

For a while now I have been trying to deny that my computer had problems.  But the symptoms kept getting worse.  A high pitched noise was coming from one of three fans in the computer system.   Then it happened.  Crash!

Fortunately, I was able to restart my computer after it cooled.  So I stopped running any programs that would cause the computer to heat up - which was almost everything from videos and games to virus protection updates.  I was nettled down to one program - email.

Frustrated I stopped everything - blogging, surfing, study....

Then my friend Scott said I should clean out the dust in my computer - Hi, Scott, thanks!  I knew he was right - but didn't want to admit it.  Why?  I had to pull my computer out of its nice cozy hole.  I had to disconnect it from all the wiring that keeps it humming.  I had to surgically remove the panel that held its insides together (which by the way is far better than my old computer in which the skin came completely off).

The problem was much more serious than I thought.  First, I had no idea how to take the panel off.  All I saw were pop rivets and ONE screw!  How does one screw hold together such a complicated piece of machinery?  I flipped it over several times, untightened and tightened the screw, and finally had a brain shock.  It had one panel that had to be removed!  Yes!  Success!

I am not the most computer literate person but I do like to tinker.  This became a game that I had to conquer.  The panel slid off, and to my disgust, I wanted to put it right back on.  Gangrene had set in.  Dust was everywhere!  The fan was so clogged that I am surprised it ever turned.  I set to work with a Swiffer sheet, ear swab, and hot air - mine.

I cleaned every inch of the inside.  I blew out dust until I was choking.  I pulled dust particles from my hair.  I even held the machine upside down to blow out the remaining particles of dust trying to cling to safety.  The insides looked fantastic so I slipped the one panel back into place.  That was easy.  Now, I had to reconnect the vital life support systems.  Everything is great so far.

Now what?  Say a prayer and hope it returned to life?  Nay.  I boldly reached up and pushed the power button!  The computer screamed to life but without the scream.  Silence yet there was activity.  It booted up!  What's next?  Test it!  Test and test and test it.  When it was clinging to life, the fan would quickly start its whine of regret.  I started running program after program.  I began running multiple programs while running video!  Still not whining.

That's right! 24 hours later, it works great and the whine has not returned!  Yeah me!

Just goes to show you that the little things do matter.  I am setting my computer up on a quarterly cleaning schedule.  Might as well keep this from happening again.  Little things do matter - even in ministry because you never know when the dust build up might bring everything to a screeching halt.

My biggest discovery about not blogging however is that I am going to start posting more than just Bible studies on this blog.  I want one place to air out my thoughts - not three.   Yes, I have three blogs (better than the seven I used to have).  So I will finish up the Galatians study, and begin adding many more thoughts along the way - political, whims, more Bible studies, and whatever gets me going.

Have a great day and remember God's love is perfect love.