Don’t put your glass there! What?!? That’s not a coaster! I must admit. I’ve only relatively recently discovered Qi (pronounced “chee”). No, it’s not a card game. Qi is currently the industry standard for wireless charging otherwise known as inductive charging. It uses electromagnetic induction to provide electricity to portable devices without the need of cables or plugs. I guess that I had heard of it, but I was at a friend’s house inadvertently attempting to destroy his wireless charging pad with my cold, sweaty glass containing a most lovely adult beverage, when I really discovered Qi. He explained how his cell phone had wireless charging capability. I thought that was great and I wished that my phone had that. “It probably does,” he said. “What model phone do you have?” I had recently gotten a new used phone out of necessity, the old one having made impact with the driveway while getting out of the car. It shattered and had to be laid to rest. My friend invited me to place my phone on his “coaster.” Like magic, it began to charge! Voila! It was a “chee” moment for me for sure! I gotta get one of these. It was just a “cheapy” one from some left-over stock that Best Buys wanted to clear – but it worked. In fact, it was cheap enough that I bought two. They’re still working fine and I no longer have to plug my phone in for a charge. Unlike me, most folks were probably well aware of wireless charging technology and making use of it well before me – especially younger folks. However, most folks are probably unaware – especially younger folks – that the Church has already had this technology for centuries. On this Third Sunday known as Gaudete (Rejoice) as we continue our Advent Journey, we may feel at this point, that our batteries need a bit of recharging. There has simply been so much to do and there is still so much to be done before our celebration of Christmas. We all have our “to do” list. Our Advent Journey, like any journey, can be draining. We need a moment to recharge. This is where the centuries old Church’s Qi comes into play. Coming before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has long been the Church’s technology of inductive charging. Eucharistic Adoration recharges our Spiritual Batteries. When the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to drain us, it time for us to rest upon the Divine Charging Pad. In fact, don’t let the batteries get too low – or you might miss making or receiving an important SMS advising of a Child to be born in Bethlehem! This Advent and beyond take time and make time to recharge your batteries. Make use of the Qi technology that Mother Church has had for centuries and feel the current of the Most Holy One recharging you and giving strength to continue and complete the Advent Journey enabling a fully charged Christmas celebration!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson