Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

• Proverbs 17:3

I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

• Ecclesiastes 3:18

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:4

When I prepared in December to reach my son’s home by Christmas Eve, I planned all the bill paying, but one bill, due in only a week’s time, had yet to arrive.  It was the cable and internet bill.  I went by the store to pay the bill, and I mentioned that my remote had a button that had broken.  They gave me a new remote and said that I could keep the old one as a souvenir.

Note: The white button on the remote to the right is the button where the cover had crumbled, and the button would no longer work.  The bad thing is that it was the selection button.  You could find the show you wanted on TV, but then you could not select it.  I had used the voice command for the past couple of years, from before my wife passed away.  It was just an inconvenience that I thought I could resolve.

When I got home, I followed the instructions, and the new remote failed to sync with the television volume control.  Thus, I still need the old remote to change the volume or mute the television.

I then took my two-week trip to Tennessee and Mississippi.

When I returned, I picked up the new remote to turn on the television, something that had worked before I left.  The television did not turn on.  I clicked the button again, and again.  No television, but I heard a strange noise.  I clicked the button again and the noise stopped.  As I clicked the button again, it dawned on me that the remote for the television (cable remote) had decided to change who it was synced with.  The fan in the corner of the room was coming on and turning off with each click of the button.

Do not think this totally weird in that the fan came with a tiny remote that I had never used.

So, I am glad they did not require me to turn in the old remote.  I need both remotes to do everything for the television.  Yes, the select button works with the television, as do all other buttons except for volume, mute, and now power on and off.

As a test from the Lord, I did not lose my patience.  I did not get angry.  I laughed.  But I have no idea whether my request to get a new remote has made my television watching more convenient, which was the goal.

But it has made my television watching a bit strange.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.