The Air Conditioner

At my school, my classroom that I have my desk in has an air conditioner and heating unit up in the middle of the ceiling.  To turn it on or off requires the use of a remote control.  Same goes goes for changing any of the settings, of which there are quite a few.

Before we leave at the end of the day, the last teacher out must turn off the AC/Heating unit.  As it is now summer, it if very much just the AC.  I waited behind for another teacher who tends to stay later than the rest of us.  She was locking things up while I straightened the chairs and books.

Then she reached for the remote control, pointed it at the AC, and pushed the off button.  Then she put it down and started to leave.  I paused.  The AC unit was still on.  She had pointed it at the unit, but not at the receiver.  She had pushed the off button, but without the control being pointed specifically in the right place, the AC didn't know to turn off.  The remote said the AC was off.  The AC was still on.

I tried to explain that you had to point to a specific place for the instructions from the control to get to the AC and that the AC makes a beeping noise when those instructions are received.  She pointed out the control said it was off.  I pointed a finger at the clearly turned on AC and said that it didn't matter what the control said, the AC was still on.

Our relationship with God is often the same way.  Heck, our relationships with those around us and those we claim to care about are often this way.  We pray, we preach, we tell others how to live their lives... but without that connection to God it is all meaningless.

Quick disclaimer, I am not a fan of anyone lecturing another on how to live their lives.  We are all adults.  Still, there is a time and a place.  If you don't have that connection to God, you might very well not do a thing when you think you are.  You have to listen for Him to talk back to you, otherwise, you aren't being a very good steward.