Don’t Think You’re The Lone Ranger

After I’d completed a two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army, my first real job was working in the Furman University Computer Center. They needed a computer operator/programmer. My hours were 4:00-8:00 AM (operating the computer) and 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon (programming). This schedule was quite challenging for me, both mentally and physically.

The photograph above (taken many years later) of a lone conifer on a vertical sandstone wall provides a visual representation of how I often felt during this time.

One morning after coming into work, I realized there was a problem with the phone line in the computer center. I placed a trouble call to AT&T. A short time later – about 4:30 AM as I recall – an AT&T technician showed up. As he began to research the problem, I made the offhand remark, “I thought I was the only one who had to work these crazy hours.” The man shook his head in disagreement and responded, “Don’t think you’re The Lone Ranger.”

After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18), Elijah ran for his life to the south. He was so discouraged, he wanted to die. But after some food and rest, he felt well enough to travel some more (in fact, forty days more). After this journey, Elijah complained to God, “I’m the only [faithful] one left.” God responded, “Hey, stop thinking you’re The Lone Ranger, bud! Just to let you know, there are not one, not two, but seven thousand other folks who have remained faithful to me.” (See 1 Kings 19:3-18.)

Just as God provided a reality check for Elijah, the phone technician provided one for me.