I Just Wrote My First Check of the Year

3

File this in the “Department of Useless Trivia,” but this morning a man came by to repair the gas heating system in our fireplace. Because Marlene is at her Explorer’s Bible Study, I met the man and chatted with him while he cleaned the unit and got it in good working order. When I wrote him a check in payment, it occurred to me that this is the first time all year I’ve actually written a check from our checkbook.

No kidding. 

This is November 4, and I haven’t even used the checkbook all year long. Partly that’s because Marlene handles the finances in our family (she’s far better at it). But it’s also a reflection on the change in our society not only to a “cashless” system but to a “paperless” system. We do almost everything electronically these days. 

Not sure what to make of that, but it seems significant somehow. Thirty years ago I wrote checks all the time. Now I’ve written my first one in 2008. 

Clearly there is no going back to the old system. I can remember when men always carried around big wads of cash with them. I know some still do. I’m thinking of a dear friend (now in heaven) who would pull out a big wad of bills, which he would peel off one by one. I always felt better when I was with him. I like being around people with cash—mostly because at the moment I have exactly six $1 bills in my wallet. But no big deal. I can go to the ATM any time I like.

From cash to checks to electronic banking. 

Even as I write this, I think this means something important. Not sure what it is. I need to ponder this some more. 

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Visitor Comments:

November 4, 2008, 12:18 PM Ellis says:
	We are in the same boat Pastor Ray! It’s also my wife who is in charge of financing; anyway I am poor in numbers :)
November 4, 2008, 6:32 PM Patrick sullivan says:
British / Australian . Retired Pastor. Hospital Chaplain. Creator and Webmaster of www.jesuschristonly.com	Hi from down under Ray. How blessed you are to have your wife to look after the finances and may be the paper work that needs doing even in a paperless age. When I retired I was told by my dear wife in no uncertain way that after 40 years of doing the finances while I went out and earned the money, she was going to hand the LOT to me. And so it came to pass...URRR. Blessings Pat
November 6, 2008, 9:01 AM Ray Pritchard says:
	Ellis, you and I are blessed with wives who are gifted in the financial area. Once I gave the checkbook to Marlene, we suddenly improved in every area. Pat, I can tell you that I’m happy that I don’t do the finances. -) And I don’t expect that to change any time soon. Sounds like you’re happy, though, and if so, then I’m happy for you. Ray