Apparently, I’m a dinosaur. Although I never learned to type on an actual typewriter, and have always used a computer keyboard

since my first typing class in middle school, I am tainted by the typewriter generation. Several internet postings in recent months (from people who clearly have too much time on their hands) have condemned those of us who still leave two spaces after a period when typing. Gasp! Woe is me – I’ve been wasting who knows how many sheets of paper as a result of all those unnecessary spaces. Even now, I’m wasting spaces, because I cannot quit doing things the way that I was taught. See, I just did it again.

So the new, old way of spacing is because computer programs that handle word processing are designed to leave the proper spacing after punctuation, unlike typewriters, which weren’t designed to do it mechanically. There is no need to hit the space bar twice, although hitting the space bar twice is as much of a reflex at this point, as blinking my eyes. And besides, if it were truly one space, why haven’t word processor software programmers created an auto reduction from two spaces to one as you type? But, it is becoming a badge of honor to either keep leaving two wasteful spaces or switch to the single space method depending on who you are. If only it weren’t a difference between nothing or twice as much nothing on the page; we’d no doubt see bumper stickers about this. But who is going to be able to tell the difference which side someone is on while driving 40 miles an hour behind someone? If it doesn’t go on a bumper sticker, it doesn’t matter, right?

But, there has always been a battle between the old and new ways of doing things. The struggle between new and old products is full of examples. Look at Apple: just having a new iPhone on the market, even after eight years is a powerful reality. The new

iPhone doesn’t have any groundbreaking technology, but it’s new. Who wants the old when there is a new one? Don’t get me wrong; there are some instances where new matters. New medical technology, for example, is often a welcome development. We may not be able to improve much on the Band-Aid, but there are still huge advancements in pharmacology and surgical technique and a host of other areas that make the world a better place. The same is true of the “new” way of doing CPR. Gone are the breaths, after several studies confirmed that keeping the heart pumping is the central benefit of CPR. Air in the lungs is secondary, as it turns out, so now it’s compressions only.

And then there are the movies that are remade. I thought the new Annie movie would be a disaster last year, but it was actually

quite good. On the other side of the coin is the monstrous new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I like Johnny Depp, but Gene Wilder will always be Willy Wonka. Or what about the people who try to reinvent things that don’t need re-invented? The mousetrap is a perfect example. We used to get a lot of mice in the Rectory in Maryland. I caught dozens of them while we were there. The best traps I could find (when I could find them) were the old-fashioned spring loaded snap traps. Most stores would be sold out of those, but have plenty of the “plastic cheese” variety on hand for a reason.

And then there are the things that we’ve hoped for a re-invention of, even if we didn’t know it. But once we see the new product we think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Take the Kazbrella – a new take on the umbrella. It opens the opposite way making it easier to put it up and take it down going in and out of doors and the car, and it closes the wet part on itself and prevents dripping. Ok, so maybe the umbrella can be improved upon.

Tomorrow is our WCCF Radio show to kick off the Flower and Music Festival. Not only are radio shows almost a thing of the past (Disclaimer: I love and listen to Prairie Home Companion regularly), but the style of entertainment has changed. Remember the clipped dialogue of Dragnet on the radio? The voice acting required for radio is almost a lost art form now that we tend to watch our dramas instead of listening to them. Even music styles change (even though we do not…). But for one night we’ll revisit the “old” ways of live broadcast entertainment. I think it will prove to be just that, entertaining.

Churches are known for retaining the old ways. We use candles and liturgies and do things that people have been doing for thousands of years. We have updated a bit over the centuries, but even so we find that what we do on Sunday mornings is counter-cultural and “old”. And that’s ok. I’m not sure that you can really improve on the Eucharist, or on the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.

I like being a dinosaur with my double spacing, my spring loaded mouse traps, my old iPhone and the only true Willy Wonka. But I might like to take that new umbrella for a spin. I wonder if I can fit that all on a bumper sticker?

Tom +

Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace to continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.