On a recent Saturday afternoon I went to the golf course. No one was with me. The golf course was almost empty when I got there, and by the time I finished mine was the last car in the lot.

When I arrived, I realized I had forgotten something. I did not have my cell phone. I hesitate to mention this, but I tensed up the moment I recognized that. I was going to be gone for nearly three hours without any mode of communication with others. Oh, the humanity!

It took me a moment to compose myself, but then I finished putting my bag on my push-cart and walked toward the first tee box. I swatted my first ball down the fairway and played my round. Guess what! The world did not come to an end.

I probably enjoyed my uninterrupted round more than I should have. And I recalled the fact that 20 years ago, I never had a phone with me when I played golf, went fishing, or attended one of my sons’ games. I survived without one for the first 38 years of my life!

We have become so dependent on our electronic devices that I wonder if we have lost our ability to rely on God. Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not going into an old man rant that phones and tablets and such are of the devil.

As I write these words I am listening to the radio through my tablet and my phone is hanging on my belt.

But I need to remind myself of two things. First, only God can truly help and save me. I must learn to depend on him in all that I do. Second, I’m not nearly as important as I sometimes think. I’m not a doctor who needs to be ready at a moment’s notice to perform a transplant surgery. And I’m not the patient in need of that new organ.

I’m simply one of God’s children who needs to walk with him every day. He does not need cell service in order to reach me. He is available to me at all times.

The words of Proverbs 3 remain true. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."