Watch this!

I just got back from my business trip to CA, which was mostly to train people but was also to meet with folks on my boss' behalf and either convince them to see things his way or encourage them to continue doing what he likes. That means I spent a lot of time with very geeky engineering people, who love gadgets and always have the latest electronic "toys".

What I found was everyone was enamored with my watch. Now, these are people who own Rolex, Patek somebody or other, Roger Dubuis, etc. They have way too much money and a healthy "keep up with the Jones" attitude, and their watches are part of their pecking order. I think they are nuts. Some of those watches cost over $200K, which is so funny to a hick like me. A watch is a watch is a watch. It tells time. Why would you ever spend that much on a watch?

So it was with the bemused smile that I found myself taking off and handing over my watch to people, excuse the pun, time and time again. <groan>. Everyone noticed it right away and you could see their eyes on it while they talked to you until they could stand it no more and they just had to ask you about it.

When they figured out how it worked (it doesn't help that the movement looks like a bathroom scale that moves, shall we say, backwards (i.e. Counter clockwise, I know <groan> again) they were enchanted. They had never seen anything like it before. But when I told them it only cost about a hundred bucks - which seemed expensive to me for a watch, they were not so interested. See, they don't want some neat watch that just anyone could afford. They want some neat watch that hardly anyone can afford so they can be snooty about it.

I just don't wonder if our Christianity is something just like that. People notice something different about us, hopefully. They may say nothing at first, but eventually they can't stand it and just have to ask. The more they hear, and the more they figure out it is unlike any other religion out there, they are interested. We actually study our bibles, looking for ways to improve, and are willing to change ourselves to its will, which must seem backwards to those who have a doctrine and set about trying to find ways for the bible to fit to what they want it to say. Many become enchanted!

How unique, simple, and cutting edge. But then you tell them that its not new at all, but exactly the same way true Christians have been doing it for 2000+ years and it loses a lot of luster. By they time you end up explaining membership is not exclusive but free, the gospel is for all, you've lost them. They are looking for something that sets them apart, even in spiritual things, not brings them together with everyone else.

I suppose some people are so worried about doing things their own way they go to extremes to be "different" even to the point of being offensive to others (at which point it is no longer different but difficult - to watch). Usually though there's this thing called maturity that steps in and awakens them to what is actually important, such as their reputation, ability to teach/reach others, standing before God, and not being a stumbling block. Watching someone wound up full of pride is like seeing a head on collision with time slowed down. You hope they pull it out in the end but you are really sorry about the dead end where it looks they are headed for. Even so, as long as the old ticker keeps going we have a chance. What to do in the mean time?

Watch out! While there IS still time!

Randy