The World of Virtual Reality

I thought I had seen just about everything until I played in a virtual reality world. Virtual reality is a simulation of a three‐dimensional image or environment that you (Hannah and me, in this case) can interact within this seemingly real way using special electronic equipment, like helmet/goggles with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors. That's Bear in the middle of this collage laughing hysterically at his girl and me!

A friend left his virtual reality system at my children’s home. It was the opportune time for my grandson, his girl friend and me to play with it! First, Bear, with the system, virtually outlined the field of play that kept us from running into furniture or walls. Hannah was up first. She put on the goggles, held the hand grips and whoa-la, she was moving about the room that Bear had outlined. It was funny watching her make her way getting through whatever I could only imagine.

Then it was my turn. First, I held the hand grips and saw that I was in a Star Wars setting. That's me oohing and awwing at the sci-fi room I was in. I could see that my hand grips were electronic gloves and before I knew it, I was exclaiming “Oh, I’ve got a lightsaber! Oh, did you see that?” (Of course, they didn’t. I was the only one in this world.) I heard them laughing at me like I was laughing at Hannah. THEN, Bear changed the scene, and in this world, I was on the floor but in virtual reality, I had boarded a kayak and used paddles to make my way through glaciers in Antarctica. I saw penguins everywhere, a whale and other fish jumping beside me. At one point, I even felt the cold of being there, but that part was my imagination – I think!

What a great experience to see what virtual reality is and what it promises to be in the future. We’ve come a long way, Baby! Just look at the real “reality” of online church, teleconferencing, and so many other computer-generated opportunities for us to carry on life during this pandemic. Technology is quickly changing the world that we live in and the way that we do most things. I hear that Virtual Reality technology just might be the new way of attending church and doing business in the future.

It’s “Twilight Zone” reality to me, but so was internet technology forty years ago. I understand that businesses and churches might not need physical space and will even opt into virtual office and worship experiences. Businesses and churches will literally be without walls. You won’t need to drive anywhere. Just plug the family in, download your Sunday outfit, and materialize in worship. I’m wondering if I’ll still be alive to see it. Sure makes me wonder what is in the mind of God because He surely isn’t surprised by any of this.

Here’s what will never, ever change. Regardless of technology and split-second visuals of each other, our goal should and will forever be all about loving God and loving each other. We will still be called to care for the poor, and the sick and help those in need. We will still be charged with living intentional lives that give praise and glory to God in what we do, say and how we live. Particularly, with all of our new technology and creative abilities, we’ll, more than likely, need to practice humility and love and service even more – because THAT reality is what it means to faithfully follow Jesus.

So, maybe we should be practicing Jesus’ example of servitude in the reality of caring more about others than we do ourselves. Seriously, I believe we are in training for what God is coming up with on His Holy radar. I suspect He’s preparing us to see and appreciate the awe, beauty and splendor of how He is ever right here with us, never changing, in our vastly changing world.

He Had Me When He Said: “When You Pray….Say”

Can you imagine walking, talking, eating and laughing with Jesus day in and day out? I believe He had to lighten up and laugh with those misfits He called to be with Him 24/7 for three-and-a-half years. And, as we do with those we love, we have to tighten up when it comes to leading by the example of our "walk AND talk". They knew where His strength came from so of course, they asked: “Lord, teach us to pray.”

What would it be like to have an up-close-and-personal relationship with Jesus every minute of every hour of every day and experience even the most mundane details of life with Him? I thought about how in shock-and-awe the disciples must have been when Jesus kept surprising them with His tactical moves. He’d go where no Jew would go (to Samaria and visit with the Samaritan woman); He’d heal a blind man by spitting on mud and rubbing it in his eyes; He’d bring a dead boy back to life for his grieving widow mother. His ways were scandalous, reckless, mouth-dropping miraculous and, oh my goodness – He would forgive anyone from a woman caught in the act of adultery to “The Rock” (Peter) who denied Him three times. He kept on pointing out how to best handle situations in love.

Every aspect of Jesus' life and ministry is worthy of hours of discussion, yet it wasn't His preaching or His miracles that the disciples asked to be taught. We don't see one recorded time where they asked Him, "Teach us to preach or teach us to heal." After spending those years with the Son of God, witnessing His daily/nightly life, they asked Him, "Teach us to pray."

They wanted His prayer life. They connected the dots and knew that Jesus' public life of ministry was the result of His private life of prayer. He emphasized prayer. Luke 5:16 states, "He often withdrew and prayed." It was the very bone, marrow, and DNA of His life. Not only did He teach on prayer.....He prayed.

They watched Him pray, watched God, the Son, talk to God the Father through God, the Spirit. They saw the intimacy and the intensity that came from Him as He prayed, emptying Himself of all of His divine privileges, giving Himself fully to the Father.

My own desire is for that same intimacy with God. Intimacy comes from a tight relationship that comes from spending time with Him. It was the key to Jesus’ survival – even to death. We know that from the times we read “He went away to pray.”

I've begun to ask myself:" Is my life provoking others to say, "Teach me to pray like You do." I need to work on it, but rather than my prayer, I'll take the lead from our Master Pray-er and suggest you and I both to pray His way (Matthew 6:9-13):
"Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

I believe it's time for us to interact more with heaven. This next generation desperately needs mothers and fathers to take them by the hand and introduce them to the most beautiful and glorious Person, training them in His glorious school that we never graduate from -- the School of Prayer.