If you use a smart phone, it has probably happened to you: that moment when auto-correct takes over and inserts a word that makes you say, “Where the heck did that come from?”
A few months ago, Mrs. Sweetie was sending a text message to my brother. The subject was our nephew and the word she was typing was “hero.” Her phone decided to make it “heterosexual.” The fact that our nephew is heterosexual would not have been a revelation to his father, but we were glad she caught it before she sent it.
Her phone also refuses to recognize my name. Gerry becomes “Ferry” or “gerrymandering.” If these smart phones are so dadgum smart, how can it not figure out that the most common name she will be typing is that of her amazingly handsome and humble husband? (Hey! Maybe that’s my new nickname: “Triple H” … or not)
This weekend I responded to favorite daughter’s Facebook tag and listed my top 10 influential books I have read. This is what I thought I typed: “2. The Firm (John Grisham) – first Grisham book I read that got me hooked on legal thrillers.” About an hour later, Mrs. Sweetie was perusing Facebook and told me what I actually typed and posted: “The Firm (John Grisham) – first geisha book I read that got me hooked on legal thrillers.”
Seriously? Geisha? Either no one else had yet noticed or they were being kind, but I couldn’t let that go. So, I commented: “Wish I had noticed that auto-correct changed Grisham to geisha. Gives a whole different impression of the legal thriller genre.” That comment got as many “likes” as the original post.
So, as I was thinking (and chuckling) over that this morning, I started pondering. And my long-time readers know what happens when I start pondering … wait for it … yes! There is a life lesson here!
What if life had auto-correct? Bear with me for a moment. You bump into someone that you recognize, but you can’t remember his name. Let’s see, I know it begins with a B. Good morning, B …arry! Or you lose your train of thought … Recalculating … back on track! Or you lose your temper with your husband and are about to call him the most idiotic … auto-correct … intensely lovable man on the planet.
But maybe there is an even better way. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, New Living Translation).
Auto-correct can go wild and give you a geisha. God-correct never leads us astray, because our lives matter so much to Him that He doesn’t just correct our thoughts; He changes us and the way we think.
That, my friends, is a genuine thriller.
Question: What is one way you could really use God-correct today?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your perspective.
