Do you remember 8-tracks? I do.聽
In fact, when I got my first car, one of the first things I did was install an 8-track player. Soon, cassette tapes became popular, so I had to buy the adaptor that allowed me to play them in the 8-track player.
Eventually, I got one of the early portable cassette players. It was bigger than the 8-track player in my car and it came with a strap so that you could carry it on your shoulder like a purse. Later, my brother got a Sony Walkman and it was not much bigger than the tapes themselves.
Next came the compact disc. I remember when my buddy Ian bought his first portable CD player. He put it in his truck and every time he hit a bump, the CD skipped. It was terrible.
Sara鈥檚 brother was the first person I knew who had an iPod. This music player was all electronic and about the size of a credit card. I was amazed at how much music it stored and how quickly it moved from one song to the next.
Now, many people use their phones to stream their music.
There was a lot of technological change from the 8-track to the iPod, but the goal was unchanged. Each of these devices allowed you to listen to your favourite music any time you wanted, but they did it in completely different ways. The methods changed, but the point did not.
Over the last few weeks, life has changed in tremendous ways. Who would have thought that we would be working from home, that restaurants and stores would be shut down, and that every professional sports team in North America would cease operations?聽
On the other hand, some things remain unchanged. Family is still important. Community is valuable. Helping one another always makes things better. Spring has started to visit as it always does this time of year.聽
One other thing remains unchanged as well: 鈥淛esus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever鈥� (Hebrews 13:8). God has looked after us in the past and he will continue to do so in the future.
That has not changed.
鈥淕od is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble鈥� (Psalm 46:1).聽
