"INFORMATION PLEASE"

The year of 1967 was coming to a close and people were making plans to ring in the new year. 1967 brought the world the first ATM while McDonald’s sold their very first Big Mac for forty cents. The very first issue of Rolling Stone was published with stories about Otis Redding’s tragic plane crash and the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla.

Closer to home in rural southeastern Oklahoma, ten year old Meg Miller was excited her parents had one of the first push button telephones in their neck of the woods. However, it was rural Oklahoma in the 1960’s and the only telephone service available in the Pittsburg Lake area was a party line.

Meg loved living on a little farm with cows, horses and chickens. She didn’t mind the fact the only telephone service was a party line. She couldn’t understand her parent’s frustration about the lack of privacy. Meg thought it was neat to pick up the phone and listen to other people’s conversations.

Shortly after getting their new push button telephone Meg discovered that somewhere inside the push button telephone lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

Meg’s personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while her mother walked down Staples Road a few miles to borrow some flour from a neighbor. Meg began amusing herself at the tool bench in the basement and whacked her finger with a hammer. The pain hurt so bad it would make a preacher cuss but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

Meg walked around the house sucking her throbbing finger, finally arriving at the  telephone. Quickly, Meg pulled up a nearby foot and picked up the phone. The line was open so Meg pushed the operator and asked; "Information, please.” A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into her ear. "Information."

Meg wailed into the phone; “I smashed my finger” as  the tears came readily enough now that she had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question. "Nobody's home but me," Meg blubbered. "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked. "No," Meg replied, "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open the icebox?" the information lady asked. After Meg said she could the lady said; "Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger.”

After that Meg called "Information Please" for everything. She asked her for help with her geography and told her where Philadelphia was. She helped her with her math. She told her the chipmunk that Meg had caught in the barn just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts. She got the biggest kick out of Meg calling to ask how to spell “fix.”

Then, there was the time “Melody,” the pet canary died. Meg called “Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But Meg was not consoled and asked her; "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy then end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?" She must have sensed my deep concern as she said quietly, "Meg always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow it made Meg feel better.

When Meg was twelve years old, she and the family moved across the country to San Diego. Meg missed her friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that push button telephone receiver back home in Oklahoma and Meg would not think of trying the shiny new red telephone that sat on the table in the hall. As Meg grew into her teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left her. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity Meg would recall the serene sense of security she had back then. Meg appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind the information lady was to have spent her time on a young girl.

A few years later, Meg was on her way to college back in Oklahoma and after her plane landed in Denver she had about a half-hour or so between planes. Meg spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with her sister who lived in Denver. Then without thinking what she was doing, she dialed the operator and said, "Information Please." Miraculously, Meg heard the small, clear voice she knew so well. "Information” answered the familiar voice and Meg heard herself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now." Meg laughed, "So it's really you," Then Meg said; "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

”I wonder," the information lady said, "if you know how much your call meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls." Meg told her how often she had thought of her over the years and she asked if she could call her again.

The information lady said; "Please do, just ask for Sally."

Three months later Meg was flying from Oklahoma back to San Diego and wanted to tell Sally to have a Happy New Year. A different voice answered, ”Information." Meg asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" she asked. "Yes, a very old friend," Meg answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," the new information lady said. "Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago." Before Meg could hang up she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Meg?" "Yes." Meg answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you." The note said, "Tell Meg there are other worlds to sing in. She'll know what I mean."

We will celebrate New Year’s in a few days to begin a brand new year. Many of us believe "good luck" comes from charms, superstitions, rituals, eating certain foods and tomes of other examples.

 In fact, many of us were raised with the old Southern Tradition of eating black eyed peas or hog jowls or collard greens or all three of these foods on the first day of a new year to have "good luck". Some people believe that if you cook the peas with a new dime or penny, the person who gets the coin in their bowl will receive extra luck.

However, God’s Good Book teaches us; "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father. (James 1:17) Fact is, the word "luck" is never mentioned in the Holy Bible. Fact is, neither do any of the non-canonical writings or books contain the word "luck.”

How many of us have swore off specific sins at the beginning of a new year? I have never been a drinker but I cannot count the times I made promises to never light up another Marlboro or to stop cursing or dozens of other sinful ways. It is akin to hollering down a well with those promises isn’t it?

No doubt many of us have made decisions so far out the buses don’t even run there. Christians have the Holy Spirit which keeps us from sinning amok on steroids. When we sin, we feel bad and we know we need to confess to receive God’s forgiveness. Doesn’t matter what the sin is nor how many times we sin because God promises us He will forgive us if we confess our sins. (1 John 1:9) Yes folks, it is that simple to be forgiven because God loves you that much. (Psalm 86:5, Psalm 86:15)

This new year, forget the black eyed peas and make a commitment to get back to God. He wants you want back and will take you back with deep love. (Isaiah 54:7 Remember God is not mad at you but is mad about you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving each and every one of us no matter what we have done or not done. We have a choice every day to live life with You or without You. Grant us the wisdom to understand life always is better with You and keep us from wasting time chasing down other placebos for happiness. The bottom line never changes and that is “You Just Can’t Beat Jesus Christ!”