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This is part 10 of my 14-part series on problem solving for Christians. Make sure you are subscribed to get the whole series! You can read the previous posts at stjezzer.substack.com. I am delighted to offer the whole series free of charge. If you appreciate the value I am giving, please do consider either a paid subscription, or a one off donation using the button below.
In the last post, we discussed the importance of not breaking what doesn’t need fixing. In this post, we continue practical approaches to solving problems.
Some time in the 1990s, when desktop computers were becoming more mainstream at home, I heard a (possibly fictional) story about an older person who had just bought their first desktop tower computer. After a little time of using it daily, they had called technical support, complaining that the coffee cup holder feature kept disappearing every time they shut the computer down. The user complained that several coffee cups had been smashed during shut down, as the holder retracted itself into the computer, resulting in multiple coffee stains on the user’s lovely white carpet.
After a few minutes, the technical support agent realised that the older person was talking about the computer’s CD drive.
Optical disk drives are more or less a redundant feature these days, with those clunky older drawer-style drives suffering an early retirement in favour of those sleek slot-type drives popularised by that trendy fruity computer company (Apple). Suffice to say, those of us who remember those drawer-style drives will surely know that they were never designed to hold hot beverages.
Using something outside of its design scheme is never a good idea. And so it is with God’s creation.
This is an underlying principle I apply to my body and my health to understand what goes into it, and what goes onto it. Yes we can be guided by science, but to be guided by science instead of being guided by God essentially puts science on the throne where God should be sitting. I’m a firm believer that God is the creator of everything, including science - after all, humans are studying science to learn just how incredible our Creator God is.
Ensuring things are being used within their design intentions is also a principle I apply in troubleshooting technology. Is the technology being used as designed? Does it have the things it needs (like power)? Are all the cables actually connected? Is the technology too hot? (Computers in particular don’t like too much heat).
This is one of my favourite troubleshooting mindsets: are we doing things the way they are meant to be done? If not, what can I do to move things back to working within the way they are designed to be used?
Next week, I’ll be talking about an important question to ask when something suddenly stops working.
The content provided in this post - and throughout this series exploring Problem Solving from a Christian Perspective - is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the author, St. Jezzer, and is not intended as professional advice of any kind, including but not limited to legal, medical, psychological, financial, or pastoral counselling. No guarantees are made regarding the outcomes of applying any ideas or strategies discussed. The author, St. Jezzer, disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or adverse consequences resulting from the use of or reliance on this content. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance for any personal, mental, spiritual, practical, or other challenges they may be facing.