First Transcontinental Telephone Call 1916

March 27, 1884, is the date the first long-distance telephone line was completed from New York City to Boston. Over the next eight years, lines were opened between New York and Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, and New York and Chicago. One hundred one years ago, the first transcontinental telephone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell. Later that day, President Woodrow Wilson used the connection to speak from the White House to an audience in San Francisco. He said, “It appeals to the imagination to speak across the continent.” I am fascinated by progress that’s been made in communication. I can remember the first car phones, the first cordless phones, and the first big cell phones! Now we can talk to people all over the world – and see them while we talk! I wonder what lies ahead.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

~N

Mothering Day

March 15 is Mothering Sunday, or the fourth Sunday in Lent. It originated in Europe as a time for people to return home and attend their “Mother” Church, usually a cathedral or large church near their childhood home. Servants were given the day off to go home. They said they were going “a-mothering” and often stopped to pick flowers along the way home. Over time, the day became a time to celebrate mothers, much like Mother’s Day. In the UK and Ireland, Mothering Day and Mother’s Day are celebrated at the same time.

One way for us to celebrate this day is to take time to reflect on our heritage, both church and family. And this day, like every day, is a great day for flowers.

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing bids is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

~N

National Caffeine Awareness Month

This day is set aside for us to become more aware of the caffeine we consume. Coffee is probably the biggest source for most of us, and there is always debate over whether it’s good or bad for us. I looked up a few facts. Of the top 15 heaviest coffee drinkers, guess what profession is number one? Scientists and lab technicians. I think they should know all about the dangers of caffeine, and yet they are consuming the most—at least according to that one study. Another thing about the scientists: the first web cam was made so a group of Cambridge University scientists could stream live footage so that they would know when the coffee pot in the lab was empty. This was in 1991, before those handy Keurig machines. I was also surprised to learn there are better times to be drinking coffee: 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. This is bad news for early risers like me. Becoming more aware of caffeine, the good and the bad, has made me more appreciative of my morning coffee, especially on a cold day like today.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31