This morning I switched on my computer with the intention of being able to check a couple of emails and then take it with me to a meeting where it would have been helpful to have been able to use it.

The computer booted up as normal.

It showed me the login screen as normal.

I typed in my password as normal. (I don’t mean ‘normal’ is my password).

The computer showed me the normal ‘I’m thinking about it’ swirly dots.

And then it told me that my password was incorrect.

I thought that perhaps I had mis-typed it so I typed it again.

Same message.

So I tried another password that I had previously used.

Same message.

So I tried the first one again.

Same message.

So I tried another old password.

Same message.

I rebooted the computer and tried again with the current password.

Same message.

I tried the old ones again.

Same message.

I checked that caps lock was not on and tried again.

Same message.

I was beginning to get rather flustered by this experience. In frustration I typed the current password again.

And it worked.

I have no idea why it decided that the password was acceptable this time but not on any of the previous occasions I typed exactly the same message.

I wonder if sometimes that’s how God feels about us – that we have somehow password-protected ourselves from him and even though he keeps on trying we ignore him. I have in my mind a new painting along the lines of Holman Hunt’s famous ‘Light of the World’ in St Paul’s Cathedral.

The new painting has Jesus at a computer and the caption reads, “Behold I sit at the computer and attempt to login. If anyone will accept my password and give me access I will enter their domain and program with them, and they with me.”

Be blessed, be a blessing