Sound Familiar?

There is a time for everything,                                                                                                              and a season for every activity under heaven:                                                                            a time to weep, and a time to laugh …                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4a

Yesterday fellow blogger Mitch Teemley posted these timely words:

“After performing tragedies, the ancient Greeks always staged comedies, often making fun of the tragedies they’d just presented. Why? Comedy relief. Likewise, humor flourishes during wars and epidemics. Morbidity? No, survival. When we’re under attack, we ridicule our attackers and tease ourselves. Why? Because it helps us cope, reminds us we’re in this together and, well, simply provides comedy relief. Those Greeks had it right.”

Inspired by Mitch’s words (and in honor of April Fool’s Day), I’m finally posting a piece I had hesitated to publish …

So, people are stockpiling non-perishable foods, drinking water (not sure why on that one … ) and of course, toilet paper. (What is it with the toilet paper???)

For anyone over 30, this scenario brings back memories of another world-wide emergency: “Y2K.”

For you who don’t remember this crisis, here’s a little background:

It seems that when computers were first invented they had built-in clocks keeping track of times and dates. Unfortunately, the years registered only in two digits, so 1984 was just “84,” 1999 was just “99.” Apparently it hadn’t occurred to the technology geniuses until the late 90’s that there might be a problem when the year “99” turned over and became “00.” This situation provided fuel for a major scare world-wide. By now virtually every part of our society from our car engines to our banking to our communication was computerized. Rumor had it that even the latest toys, “Furbies,” were more technologically complex than our first space shuttle – Don’t quote me on that one, please.

It just happened that I was asked to sing at a Christian Women’s Club luncheon on January 4, 2000. The format was to sing one light, secular song early on, then a “sacred” song just before the speaker. For the “secular” selection I couldn’t resist writing an original song for just such an occasion. I only performed it once, but here it is, resurrected after 20 years+.

You can sing along. The melody is the same as “Jingle Bells.” The song should start out light and fun, then gradually build in speed and intensity until it reaches a frenzied climax just before the last two lines, after which the song should end with a line of hesitation and an abrupt final line, sung with a big, relieved smile.

(Have fun, and happy April Fool’s Day.)

Y2K

Y2K! Y2K! What is Y2K?                                                                                                                         The end of all life as we know it, coming any day now!                                                                  Y2K! Y2K! Everyone beware!                                                                                                                Stock up fuel and food supplies, so you will be prepared.

All commercial planes will fall out of the sky!                                                                                   Reservoirs will drain and leave us high and dry!                                                                               Every ATM will tell you that you’re broke!                                                                                       All cars on the road will simultaneously choke – OH!

Y2K! Y2K! What are we to do?!                                                                                                              I’m prepared for Y2K. (But I won’t share with you – Ha!)                                                                  Y2K! Y2K! All computers die!                                                                                                                 We have great technology.  At midnight it will fry.

Desktops all will fail, and laptops lose their drive!                                                                            If we don’t comply, we will not survive!                                                                                                 Floppy discs will flop, and CD’s will not work,                                                                                While a million Furbie toys go totally berserk!!! – OH!

Y2K! Y2K! Panic in the street!                                                                                                                Will we freeze to death that day or have no food to eat?! – OH!                                                      Y2K-Y2K- Running-out-of-time!!!                                                                                                        … what? … It’ January 4th?

In that case …                                                                                                                                                                            never mind.

*(Today this song is dedicated to all the computer engineers and technicians who worked tirelessly to make “Y2K” a non-crisis, and to all the doctors, researchers, and world leaders battling the Corona virus today.)

Prayer: Dear Lord, we see everything from the worldly, temporary  perspective of this life, and quite honestly, things seem very grim today. But we know that nothing is out of Your control, and from Your throne things look very different. We know that when we get to heaven we will be able to look  back on everything You’ve brought us through – including death itself – and smile. Give us the faith and trust to smile even now, when we can’t see the outcome, but we know that You are all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving. And Lord, for those reading this who aren’t there yet, please use this blog to draw them closer to You, their loving Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.