I never thought I'd be thankful for computer problems, but seen in the light of God's perfect plan to spread the gospel, sometimes they aren't so bad. One time, in particular, it was an Internet problem. My dial-up connection, which had been working fine for months, had suddenly developed a bug. I called the technical support line for my Internet provider, and the technician who answered walked me through the possibilities. There were dozens of them, so as we waded through, we developed a nice chat. The time was certainly afforded us to do so, since many of the tests required reboots to the computer. Since I had an older model, it took awhile.

The technical support rep was a young man in his 20's, a photojournalist, he said, and he was getting his Master's degree. I told him that I was a writer, and he enjoyed the fact that we were peers, in a way, so we talked about my job, his job, and school. After about a half an hour of trouble-shooting, we determined that the software I had been using was likely not compatible with my system software and that I would need the latest upgrade, which he said he would put in the mail to me right away.

Now that the problem appeared to be solved, at least for the moment, there was a strange pause, as if something else were coming. It was a pause I've learned to recognize — one that tells me that God is doing something. I silently asked the Lord for an opening, if that was what this was. Suddenly, the technician asked me, if I didn't mind telling him, how old I was. I didn't mind, and told him.

“Oh,” he said. “You just passed your Venus return.”

“Excuse me?” I replied, my antennas springing up. “What is a Venus return?”

Lessons From Deuteronomy

He explained it in astrological terms, which I've now forgotten, and I mulled it over for a moment, looking for the right words. I didn't find them, so I tried the direct approach. I asked him if he believed the Bible. I asked because I know that even many Christians are not aware of God's strong condemnation of these practices — a subject of tremendous relevance in today's age of Harry Potter — let alone non-Christians. Indeed, astrology and mysticism are practices that are an abomination before God (Deut. 18:9-14).

Not surprisingly, this young man had never read Deuteronomy, and he seemed interested as I shared the relevant verses with him. We chatted for some time about the Bible, its historical accuracy and reliability, and the nature of God as a jealous God — not wanting to share His Lordship with any, including those practicing the mystical arts. We'd been on the phone a long time, and not surprisingly, he began to feel that his supervisor was giving him indications that he'd been on too long. Abruptly, he got off the phone.

I felt that I had let the Lord down. I felt like He had given me an opportunity and that I'd blown it. Although I'd been given the chance to talk with this young man about many subjects, I'd never said the words “Jesus Christ” or talked about the need to have a personal relationship with Him. I prayed that, if the Lord would give me a second chance, I wouldn't screw it up again. How I would do that I had no idea, since I didn't even know his name.

It was at the gym the next morning, as I sweated out my problems on the stair climber, that it occurred to me that I could write him a letter. I could send a cover letter, along with some follow-up information, then package it up, seal it, and put it in another package with a separate cover letter to the supervisor at the help center, asking him to forward it to the photojournalist Master's student in the Macintosh help area. With hundreds of technicians, it was a long shot — like sending a message in a bottle — but I believed that the Lord could, and would, direct it. I admit that I was thinking a little crazy, especially since I didn't even bother to ask God if this is what He wanted me to do, but I resolved that this would be my plan.

What Are the Odds?

It never got to that. Later that day, I checked my system information on my computer, and lo and behold, I did have the correct software to run with the Internet connection software I had installed. How we'd missed it, I don't know. So I called the technical line again. I wondered if, by some crazy providence, I would get the same technician again. I didn't. Instead, I received help from another very nice young man about the same age. It didn't take long this time to get the problem straightened out, and as I was about to hang up, I decided to take a chance.

“Do you know a guy there who is a photojournalist getting his Master's degree?” I asked. “I know it sounds crazy, but I had some follow-up information I wanted to send him from a conversation we had yesterday.”

To my amazement, he said, “Sure. His name is Bart. He's my roommate.”

What are the odds? So I explained to him what I wanted to do, and he was happy to give me Bart's last name and the address to the company's technical help center. I mailed the package to him that afternoon.

This happened nearly four years ago, and as I reflect upon the situation today, I see that perhaps I had taken a few more steps than God had intended. Perhaps, in our first conversation, I'd sown the very seeds that God wanted to sow. But I do know that God honors the heart, and at the time, I was certain that I hadn't done enough. Whether He wanted this young man to receive the information I'd sent, or whether He simply wanted to teach me a lesson about His faithfulness when we want to do His will, He graciously opened the second door.

Certainly, I learned a lesson that day. Although I can't honestly say that I've learned to be grateful for all of my computer failures, I have learned to look for the silver lining. Because it's amazing how God can use the most frustrating, mundane events of our everyday lives for His honor and glory.

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