Each week, I sit down in front of a computer screen to type up another thought or two that occurs to me, on rare occasions, during the week. This week I was reading some more articles on changing times in Christianity. Many authors are racing forward to try to keep up with the pace of modern living. Changing worship styles, musical tastes, and mid-week programs abound. Some of the ideas are great, but I have to admit that at times I am overwhelmed. Then, out of the blue, a question crossed my mind, namely, who invented this odd keyboard layout that I am using to type out today’s article?
Of course, the answer is not always simple. The invention of the typewriter started it all.  However, just like the Bible consists of many books, the invention of the typewriter took many hands. Still, the first commercially successful machine was developed by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 1860’s. Other people before him provided pieces of the puzzle, just as Henry Ford did not invent the automobile himself. With a few business partners, Mr. Sholes eventually sent off a prototype to a stenographer to try out. After some faults and weaknesses were pointed out and fixed, one main problem remained. The keys kept jamming if a person typed too quickly.  The solution arrived at was to select and separate common letters. Then, typing would be somewhat slower, so then the weighted keys had time to fall back in place before another one jammed it, as keys were not even spring operated originally. Thus, the modern typing keyboard was produced with the top row letters QWERTY on the left hand. This configuration is a far cry from the first model that looked like a piano with letters and numbers on the black and white keys. The new QWERTY configuration became the English standard, and it is still with us, despite its inefficiency and modern computer keyboards.
Now, we might better appreciate why Christianity keeps so many of its treasured traditions. They originally met a need at the time, yet despite the changing situation, we take the time to learn those traditions, because they bind us together across time and space. They actually enable us to move beyond our own little piece of the world and communicate and participate with others.  Moreover, in such a fast-paced world today, like the QWERTY keyboard, it is good for us to slow down. Efficiency is not Godliness. So what if “The Lord’s Supper” is slow? So what if reading the Bible on paper is visually less stimulating than a laser light show presentation?  Slow can be good. Just ask the tortoise in the race with the hare. Yes, slow gives us time to reflect. It also gives us time to pray.
I appreciate "slow" because I confess that I am a lousy typist. Would changing the keyboard help? I doubt it. After all, it is peace that our faith promises, not speed. A footnote is also appropriate. Mr. Sholes lost faith with his invention, and he sold his patent rights for twelve thousand dollars to the Remington Company. One of his partners remained committed to the machine and insisted on a royalty instead. He earned $1.5 million. Be patient in all things.