Mac Attack

For those of us devoted to Macs, we endure a lot of grief. To the hard-line PC crowd, they just don't understand why anyone would be foolish enough to buy an Apple! Aren't they in all ways inferior to a PC? According to some PC enthusiasts, when compared to the Mac, a PC processes more quickly, is easier to work with, produces better materials, is compatible with everything (except Macs!), and even SMELLS better. We can share with people, implore people-- try any variety of means to get them to understand our devotion to our Macs-- but often we get a shake of the head in disgust. But that shouldn't dampen a Mac-lover's enthusiasm. Why?

Because most of us who own a Macintosh, however, we know what we have. We just know. We know why we love our Apples. We know why the money is worth it. Our Macs are like friends. They are straightforward, familiar, reliable, personable, and can do just about anything we need to do. They are rarely susceptible to viruses. They have appealing design. Owning a Mac makes you feel, for lack of a better word... gemütlich! You may have to look that one up on dictionary.com-- but the word works! And if those that don't own a Mac, in some ways they just don't get it. Once in a while, the Mac user gets to see a PC-er convert-- for whatever reason, they broke down and bought an iMac, or a Mac-Mini-- or perhaps an iPod infiltrated their defenses and the rest just followed. But for those who I have seen come over to what many would call the "dark side"-- and we share a knowing nod and smile with them... because now they know, too.

Now, I don't want to stretch the metaphor too far, but a lot of the world can look at Christians and wonder why we have decided to follow Christ. Why give your life to this Jesus and step away from so many things the world values, condones, and even celebrates? Don't you give up a lot of your freedom to do what you want because of God's rules? For a lot of people, dealing with God means they may have to face stepping away from much of what has come to define them-- partying, promiscuity, pride, you name it-- and stepping away from the familiar and the habitual and the self-indulgent is too high of a price to give one's life and love to Christ.

But those of us who love Jesus, we know. We just know. We know why we choose Christ. We know the price He paid to save us, to renew us, to know us. We know that what He did for us and is doing in our lives and hearts causes the pull of the world to fade, to become less appealing, to be of less importance because following God is worth any cost. We can share with people, we can implore people-- try any variety of means to get people to understand God's amazing love-- that yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us-- but many people just don't want to see it. Or they refuse to. But that doesn't mean rejection, ridicule, or rebuke should dampen our enthusiasm-- for we know what is at stake. Christians too, get to see converts from the world become become brothers and sisters in Christ. And we can give them a smile, a knowing nod, an embrace-- because now they know, too.