Analogue: A Free Inspirational Story.

 

Analogue. A Short Inspirational Story.

Disgusted with both herself and the world, Hannah tossed her phone across the bed. It bounced harmlessly on the duvet, but at that moment, Hannah wouldn't have cared if it had fallen to the floor and cracked. The world was becoming more and more wacko and upside down. And where was God, if He existed? Surely it was God's job to sort out the huge mess that threatened normal existence.

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Hannah was in her mid-twenties. An old soul, it seemed, from birth. She had refused the bottle and dummy, and later on, had staunchly stood up for books whenever movies were made of them. She preferred porridge over cereal for breakfast, and had a penchant for thrift stores. Hannah's favourite book was Tolkien's "The Hobbit", and she'd have been delighted to have a hobbit hole of her own.

That hope, however, still remained a distant dream, as forced by a crazy economy, she'd been renting the granny flat on her parents' property since leaving college.

Hannah tossed her nut brown ponytail over her shoulder and sighed deeply. She stared at the black screen of her phone as though hoping to find an answer in its reflection. As the silence deepened, an idea bloomed in her mind. While she pondered it, her breathing calmed and her brow smoothed. Of course! Why didn't I think of it before! All I need is self-control. Peace and tranquillity; here I come!

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Feeling proud of herself, Hannah checked for messages on her newly acquired dumb phone. In the course of a few days, she'd deleted all social media, had traded her smart phone for the dinky one she now held, and had loaned her father's old camera. He'd offered her his old DVD player too, along with a stack of old family favourites, and Hannah was beyond pleased. 

"Fancy me being the more modern one!" Her dad had grinned as he held up the latest phone. "I'm glad it's such a breeze to find my favourite tunes and movies these days. I wouldn't go back if you paid me."

Hannah's mom had raised an arched eyebrow at Hannah from the kitchen. "I shouldn't imagine it will last long. And what about work and banking? How will you manage?"

"No worries. I still have my laptop. So I can check e-mails and pay bills. But strictly at the office." Hannah voice was confident as she pictured cozy, old-fashioned evenings at home. "I'll be just fine."

***

And she was. She cherished her new quiet bookworm existence. What's more, her fervour extended to her wardrobe and decor, as Hannah swapped yoga pants for long skirts and dresses, and her modern duvet for a second hand quilt. Piles of books now graced her coffee table, and she'd begun watching an old series from her childhood. Her experiment was turning out rather well. There was just one thing that bothered her more than she cared to admit. The silence. No more could she distract herself with a bit of mindless scrolling when tough questions rolled through her mind. She hadn't factored in the fact that questions and thoughts could plague you whilst you were reading; or even worse, whilst lying phone-less in bed. Hannah had made the firm decision to leave her laptop at work when she finished up her day, even if it meant staying a few minutes later to check e-mails. That choice had really helped her in her quest to go analogue, but it meant she had no way to cheat.

But Hannah was not a quitter. She figured that she'd just have to be brave and finally seek answers to the questions she'd been pushing aside for so long: scary questions about death and the meaning of life. Profound questions about God. About Jesus.

***

The Bible was not on the coffee table. Instead, it had been pushed to the back of her wardrobe. Hannah dusted it off with her hand, then curled up on the end of the sofa. She opened it, somehow knowing that she'd find the true peace she'd been craving between its covers.

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Thanks for stopping by💜🙏

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Story copyright: Alison Lawrence