Tuesday, September 23, 2014

iDropped

On Friday, the unthinkable happened.

I dropped my iPhone in the toilet.

I had put it in my back pocket, and when I went to use the facilities, well, it sort of slipped out and SPLASH!

After a moment's hesitation, I plunged my bare hand into the depths and boldly retrieved my sunken friend, somehow feeling grateful that it was, at least, my own toilet.

But the screen was black. He was already dead.

I removed the bionic casing that would have protected my phone had I dropped it from my upstairs window. And then, after some basic sanitation efforts, I placed it in a bowl of rice. All of the advice on the Internet suggested leaving the phone in the rice for at least 24 hours. I left it for 48.

When I finally pulled it from the rice, and charged it, I discovered that the sound was working, but the screen was completely blank. I could hear alerts and talk to Siri, but I could not answer calls or read emails or shuffle through music.

So I left it for another day. Still no change.

David, who knows my propensity for accidental phone destruction, had purchased the maximum possible insurance plan. "Just go down to the phone store, Jenn," he encouraged me, "They'll replace your phone."

This morning I stood in a crowded cell phone store, awaiting the assistance of the one and only clerk. When it was my turn I told him my sad story.

"I dropped my phone in the toilet."

He asked my phone number, looked up my insurace plan, and said, "All you have to do is tell me that this did not happen at home."

I stared at him blankly. "But it did happen at home," I said.

"If this happened at home, it is not covered by your insurance plan. If this happened anywhere else in the world, I can replace your phone."

"But I am not going to lie to you," I said, sort of astounded at this odd turn of events.

"Madame, just tell me this happened in a bar, and I will get you a new phone." Everyone in the store was staring at me, listening in on our conversation.

"Monsieur, it happened in my house. And I think it is ridiculous that the insurance won't cover it, but I will not lie about what happened."

So he silently handed the phone back to me.

"How much would a replacement cost?" I asked, exasperated. I had already been three days without a phone, and since we don't have a home phone it is my only means of contact.

"It would be 400€, the full price of a new phone. You used all of your points six months ago when you got this phone and so you won't be eligible for any reductions for another year and a half."

Ugh. I had gotten the phone for 1€ because of my points, and now it was going to cost me 400€ to replace it? Unbelievable.

"Is there any way it can be repaired?" I asked, defeated.

"When an iPhone falls in the water, it's over. There is nothing that can be done."

Five other customers stared at me, sympathetic.

I took my phone and walked out the door. Tears welled up in my eyes. In the past week I learned that our car needs an 800€ repair and there is no way I can afford a new phone this month, not even the most simple phone--seeing as I would be paying full price.

I sighed one of those prayers that has no words and started walking home. I inadvertantly glanced down at the dead phone in my hand, when all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, the screen lit up.

It 's fully funtioning; alive.

I'm thinking of renaming it Lazarus.

3 comments:

  1. Amazing story of integrity and how God blessed you for being truthful. There was probably someone at that store that needed to hear that someone was going to be honest, no matter what the cost! Perhaps they saw Jesus in the store that day :)

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  2. Jenn, when I read this, it brought tears to my eyes...just bc our God is so good! He heals electronics and He even heals vans! Last month, I went out to my van to go to prayer meeting and it would not start! It would turn over, but it would not start and the more I tried to start it, the worse it got!
    I borrowed a car and went to prayer meeting. I was expected and I knew they were waiting for me. I went, but I kept crying the whole time. I tried to stop, but I couldn't. I knew I did not have the money to have my old van fixed. I had offers to fix it, but I would still have to buy whatever parts it needed and I did not even have the money for that! When they asked how to pray for me, I said I just need to get up tomorrow morning and have it start and that is all. I cannot afford for it to break down right now....I just can't!
    And yes, you guessed it. Well, I cannot say that it started the next morning bc my faith was not that big. I did not even try to start it. But, then later in the day, feeling dejected and defeated, a little voice said you might as well just go and try to start it and yes, it started right up like nothing ever happened! And it has been running fine ever since! I don't know why it would not start that night or why it is fine now with nothing having been done to it in the interim, but I choose to believe God answered my feeble, faithless cry for help!
    So, I can so relate to your story. He is a Good Father! Even when He says no! But, I have to admit I like it better when He says yes! :D

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  3. Praise God for His blessings! It amazes me how nothing is too small or trivial for Him to intervene - we often just don't ask. Love the name Lazarus! :-)

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