Not too long ago I was "thinking" about life. You know our lives are so
mixed. Some days are good, some are bad.

We humans are like computers. (Windows based computers)

When you put a new hard drive on a computer it is (99.9% of the time) good,
innocent and with no knowledge of anything. --- (just as we are born into
this world).

But, once the hard drive is installed, an Operating System has to be
installed. (here in America of course the majority of computers run
Microsoft Windows).  --- (just as in "life" we suddenly are introduced to an
atmosphere of family that will teach and nurture us and our habits)

Usually a FRESH install on a NEW hard drive results in things running
smoothly. But as any computer tech will tell you, Windows is NOT perfect..
It has FLAWS and PROBLEMS. (just as in life... We are born into sin and
immediately have flaws and problems in our lives).

A computer user can do some research, and once doing so can "tweak" Windows and get rid of those flaws and problems. (just as parents can "tweak" their children in teaching them right from wrong).

After that, then comes the SOFTWARE installation. (just as in life, we grow
old enough to go to school and learn).

But, sometimes certain software that WE CHOOSE to install on our hard drive results in "problems". (just as in life we sometimes allow things into our
lives and it causes problems).

Sometimes the "problems" of the software is minor and the computer user
learns to just live with that problem and work around it. (just as in life
we sometimes allow problems to stay in our life thinking it isn't that bad,
just a "problem").

Sometimes though the software is totally bad and really messes things up.
Then the computer user has no choice but to un-install the program and
forget about it. ( just as in life we sometimes come across "problems" that
we just CAN'T ALLOW and so we get rid of it).

Most of the time, that works out good for the computer user and they can go
on with other projects. BUT... sometimes even after un-installing a program
there remains a "minor" problem where suddenly the computer starts acting
erratic. (just as in life, we sometimes can get RID of a problem area in
life, yet we now have a scar. We can function and continue to live just
fine, but we will always have that scar).

Then there are some programs out there that once you put them on... Well...
That is IT.. You have problems that can no longer be ignored. You un-install
the program and it has infected your computers operation to the point that
it is un-bearable.  (Just as in life sometimes we really do WRONG things and
life becomes un-bearable).

Well, when that happens, (unless you are a very experienced user), the
computer heads for the computer shop, with hopes that you won't lose your
important information. Most of the time a computer shop with all of their
tools can get rid of the bugs and yet SAVE the persons important files and
they can then go on. (Yep.. Just as in life a lot of folks "wait" until it
is very un-bearable, then they run to CHURCH. There the Pastor is the
technician that can "teach" them what they need to know and help them
through the problems).

Now, there are times that a computers hard drive in the state that it is in,
is beyond saving. A good computer tech can "back up" the important data, but all in all the hard drive just totally needs to be re-formatted. (for those
of you not too familiar with computers... WIPED CLEAN).

Once the hard drive is re-formatted, it is the way it was at the very
beginning.... Good, innocent, with no knowledge of anything. (Isn't it great
that Jesus can be OUR technician and re-format our lives! Just when it looks
like we are beyond hope, he can come into our life and WIPE IT CLEAN to
where we can start over again. We don't lose the important things we have
learned. Just as the computer user we will always have the knowledge that
somewhere along the road we HAD to format. Therefore we are more "cautious" in what we do with hopes that we don't mess up again). 

Owning a computer can be expensive if you are a careless person. (just as in
life if we are careless we pay a price), Wiping it out time after time and
having a computer tech work on it can be costly. But being careful and
treating it right and making sure you put things on it that you feel you
"really" need, can most of the time keep things working perfectly for you.
(just as we can follow the Holy Spirits convictions and only allow the
"right" things into our lives after we let Jesus re-format our lives).

There is ONE important thing to do when it comes to computers. Most
"average" users have never heard of "defragging" a hard drive.  Defrag is a
program in Windows that helps keep the hard drive healthy. 

Anytime you install a program, delete a program, delete an email, you have
"fragmented" the hard drive. Suddenly your files on the drive have been
split into different areas of the drive. This causes the drive to work
harder anytime you access a program or file as the hard drive has to SEARCH
for all of the program or file. 

Running Defrag on your computer puts the files and programs back "together". Therefore the hard drive doesn't have to work as hard. (just as in life, we can function with a relationship with God, but continuously going to God in prayer can help keep the pieces together. The more we stay away from prayer, the harder we have to work to maintain a relationship with God. It isn't "impossible" to do, but it is HARDER to do, where going to prayer on a
REGULAR basis keeps everything together and life running smoother).

Even with doing a regular Defrag of your computer, there will be times that
you have problems. Sometimes things "just happen" and you have to RE-BOOT your computer to get things right. (just as in a Christian relationship, no matter how hard we try, we still will stumble and need to re-boot our relationship by going to God in prayer and asking for forgiveness or guidance).

Owning a computer can be a joyful thing or a total nightmare. Life is the
same way.  It is up to US to choose wisely.

I'm glad I have the BEST computer tech for my life!  I hope you do too!