Grid

The headline in today's New York Times caught my attention.

"Off the Grid, but Plugged In"

The opening words of Billie Cohen's article caused me to ponder. He said, "Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. And that doesn't mean simply turning the phone off."

Maybe a couple of definitions would be helpful.

"Off the Grid" means away from all utilities. It means not being connected to electricity in any way.

"Plugged In" means taking advantage of the utilities to power our conveniences.

Wait a minute...how can one be "off the grid" and "plugged in" at the same time?

Cohen cites a book entitled, The Self Sufficiency Specialist: The Essential Guide to Designing and Planning for Off-Grid Self Reliance, by Alan Bridgewater. In it he says, "while the term was originally used to describe a house in the developed world that by necessity or choice sourced its own energy, the term is now more and more being used to describe an independent way of life."

Every day I meet a lot of people who are "off the grid" and don't know it. Now, before you think I am being harsh, let me explain. These are people who are doing their own thing with little regard for those around them. They are narcissists who live for themselves. They are "off the grid" and yet are sucking up precious resources.

I also meet people who are "plugged in" and its obvious. You have met them as well.

Here's my thought...maybe Cohen is right. Perhaps we can be "off the grid and plugged in."

What if we live in such a way that we are not dependent on the resources around us that can sustain us momentarily, but choose to be plugged into the One who can sustain us regardless of the circumstances of life.

I am still "on the grid," otherwise I could not post daily on the blog. I need to be "plugged in" because the batteries in my laptop will run down.

I wonder if there is a lesson here for fellow pilgrims on the journey.

What do you think?