Things That Will Never Disappear

A friend of mine recently sent me an e-mail like many of us get every day. It is meant to be funny and entertaining yet it reports real facts and gives us a good reason to think about the future. This e-mail was titled “Nine things that will disappear in our lifetime.” It was entertaining and, at the same time, really made me think about how life has changed in the last couple of generations. So what are the things that will disappear according to this message? The Post Office, using checks to pay bills, newspapers, books, and landline telephones are among the casualties of technology’s never-ending advance. What really struck me was how these things are very important parts of our lives and yet, as reported, they are disappearing. We all know the serious financial trouble the Post Office is having- too many e-mails and electronic billing are making “snail-mail” a thing of the past. Banks complain that processing paper checks costs too much money- soon our whole lives (bills and all) will be controlled by little pieces of plastic. Newspapers are struggling- young people who have grown up with the internet expect their news to be instant. Who wants to wait until tomorrow morning to read a story? I love books. I love to hold them and look at them- there is something you can put your trust in if it’s in a book. But, yes, I admit it- they are big and heavy and, yes, they do start to smell a little strange after a number of years! In the new world electronic devices of all sizes and shapes will hold your “books.” You can carry a whole library under your arm and not even feel a strain! Now that nearly everyone carries a cell phone more and more people find that they really don’t need a “house phone.” Now, instead of arguing over who gets the phone next, today’s teenagers just disappear into their rooms and talk and text all night. So here we are- on the brink of a new world in which many of the things that we thought were “essentials” will soon be a part of the past. It should give us reason to pause and reflect. Many of the “things” in our lives that we thought were “essentials” will soon be replaced. The latest technology, the latest fashion or fad, or the “newest” product will cause us to discard things that once seemed precious. As we approach the High Holiday season I urge you to take a little time to think about the things that will never go out of style or become obsolete. Rosh HaShannah celebrates the new year, a new start, a new time filled with possibilities. But all these new opportunities only matter because of the things that we bring from years past. The love that we have for those around us, the time to pray, reflect, and share common hopes with family and friends, and a few quiet moments to reconnect with our tradition, these are the things that do not change or go out of style. Some things come and go but some things are eternal. Those are the things that join us to each other during the High Holidays.