As a digital tentmaking missionary to Italy, it’s easy to feel disconnected from your “former life.”
Despite all the advances of modern technology, the feeling of deep loneliness can easily seep in and infect your perspective. I will say, having Skype, Facebook, Twitter and the likes, has served us such an easier go of things. Keeping up with friends and family in the United States is much, much easier. In fact, I attend a Friday morning men’s church group, via video chat, every chance I get.
It’s awesome.
My kids hang-out with their friends via video chat and play Mario Kart Wii with each other online — at the same time. It’s truly amazing to see how technology can aid a missionary family in seemingly such a trivial way.
Last night, these pieces and parts of technology delivered me a joyous experience as I participated in Tebow’s Mile High magic experience an entire ocean away.
This is my account:
Like Old Times
First, you must understand, I was born a Bronco fan. It comes by way of bloodline. My adoration for these things, in no way, comes by way of Tebow Nation. I don’t believe God became a Bronco fan when they drafted the guy, even though sunsets are blue and orange.
I finished up a Skype call with one of my best friends and decided I would see if my Broncos were still doing the unbelievable. In fact, they were. Despite being past midnight in Italy, I proceeded to pull up a video feed when another one of best friends contacted me on Skype.
For the next hour, I watched the game while my best friend sat in his living room and we just chatted during the game.
It was like “old times.”
I hadn’t experienced this for over two years, and it was amazing. At one point, my bestie said to me, “Dude. It’s like you’re right here in the living room!”
It was.
The situation wasn’t perfect, but it did add to the charm of the evening. You see, with the delay between all the Internet feeds, my friend would see things play out 20-30 second ahead of me. I felt like I was watching the game with a psychic. Everything he said or commented on, would then play-out right before my eyes.
Meanwhile, our wives made pithy comments in the background to each other, proving that some things never change.
The Play
The game played out and overtime set in, and I’ll never forget what happened next.
I watched and listed to my friend tell me what was happening.
“Oh, man. Nice pass!. Oh, boy. Whoa! Look at him go! It’s over! Eric! It’s over! They won!”
Then I watched it play out on my computer screen.
I switched over to my Twitter and watched as TweetDeck poured out a waterfall of #Tebow hashtags.
I was an ocean away, but with by one of my best friends on video chat, a streaming video feed, and Tweetdeck at my side, it was the next best thing as being in his living room.
It. Was. EPIC.
I’m Thankful
Sure. Technology can be used to spread the Gospel, reach the lost and edify the Saints, but sometimes, just sometimes, God can use technology to make a missionary have a little fun, experience some frivolous joy, and create a memory that can easily be used to extinguish any kind of discouragement that dares try to set in.
Thank God for technology and Tim Tebow.
It was fun.
[Images via Charlie Lyons-Pardue & Jeffrey Beall]
Brian Notess says
As a fellow (and occasionally closet) Broncos fan, I also thank God for Tim Tebow.
Eric Dye says
LOL!
Peter Bowyer says
Apps such as Skype and Google+ hangouts become game-changing when rather than just providing person-to-person video calls, they’re used to enable remote presence such as in your example. Through the medium of Skype, you remotely participated in a shared experience.
The possibilities are endless; the surface has only just been scratched.
Eric Dye says
I agree. It’s got me thinking about other uses, now.
James Cooper says
Eric AND Brian. Man… (GO RAIDERS!!!) Being an hour behind Eric, it was very late for the game over here as well. I listened in bed on the radio (we get one game a week on the radio over here). Fell asleep sometime in the 3rd quarter.
I’m also being baseball fan and every year my birthday present to myself (in May) is an mlb.tv package. (Seriously NFL, why so expensive for gamepass?!)
Technology is pretty amazing.
Brian Notess says
Psh. Raiders. 1998 – 1999 == Best. Years. Of. My. Life!
Eric Dye says
Totally.
Eric Dye says
Amazing, indeed!
(Forgiving you for being a Raider fan ;-))
Eric J says
Do you watch a pirate stream or is there a legit way to get the nfl in italy?
Eric Dye says
Yes.
Matt Magee says
I’ve been a devout Broncos fan since childhood (and tired of people saying, “Right…you just like ’em now.”) and this has been a really fun year. I’m a youth pastor so I was at youth group until the game was over so I had to resist every urge to look at my phone, look people in the eye, didn’t even touch the internet, and started all conversations with (talk to the hand gesture while exclaiming), “I haven’t seen it..don’t know anything..please don’t ruin my night,” followed by giggles, smirks, etc.
Finally I got home and my awesome wife had it all cued up (thanks to NFL’s GameRewind) and ready to go while trying very hard not to make a comment that she didn’t realize would give it away! And yes…it was bliss! Every wonderful minute of it.
And it’s just a blessing and a thrill that Tebow is a Denver Bronco and leading wonderfully. Pray for him because I can’t imagine how much the Enemy wants to take him down. And the media’s ready to pounce on him if he sneezes the wrong way.
Eric, glad you were able to enjoy it! I think the Lord is too 🙂
Mitchell Karr says
I actually just wrote an article about how I used to think that Tebow was embarrassing, but as I step back, I realize that the world needs more Christians like him.
Check it out at http://mitchellkarr.com/tebow/
Jody Ferrell says
I’ve been a hardcore Broncos’ fan since I was a kid. Which makes no sense seeing as I’m from Tennessee. Sunday was awesome, my voice is still hoarse from yelling.
In regards to Tebow, I should hate him since he played for Florida. But like I’ve been saying all season, I don’t care who’s out there as long as we win.
I’ll leave you with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAIQWzW1MIc
Eric Dye says
🙂