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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Ow! (01/07/10)
Proverbs 16:18-19
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

I was new to my job as a systems analyst in a hospital laboratory. Although I’d always considered myself to be computer savvy, I was rudely awakened to the world of coaxial cables, null modems and Unix. Day in and day out, I learned just how much I didn’t know about computers, and I was beginning to despair of ever mastering the world of lab information systems.

One day, a lab tech called me to inform me that one of the lab instruments wasn’t communicating with our system. I told my boss, who promptly handed me a procedure manual and told me to bounce the instrument interface. I took the manual from her hand and trudged down to the computer room, wondering if I could bounce the whole computer out the window instead of the interfaces.

I sighed and took the seat in front of the console, placing the instructions in front of me. I slowly stepped through the process, and to my amazement, the instrument came online. I was ecstatic! I snapped the manual shut and ran back to the office, boldly declaring my victory! I received polite congratulations from my co-workers before they turned back to their own work. I was about to declare myself a true computer guru, when the phones started ringing. Yes, I had brought the problem interface back online, but had managed to disconnect every instrument in a 4-hospital system!

This goes to show that lack of humility comes about 5 seconds before total humiliation! Ow!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shilo Goodson
01/15/10
That was funny. I think we all have our pride cometh before fall stories.
Angela Linton
01/15/10
Ow! indeed. The verses that were chosen are ever so true.
Mildred Sheldon
01/17/10
Thank you for such an enjoyable story. Humility is a lesson some never learn, but all thanks to God for His Holy living word.
Amanda Brogan
01/18/10
HeHe! Great story and lesson on humility! My favorite part is where you talked about "bouncing the computer out the window instead of the interface." I think we all want to do that to our computers at times! Thanks for sharing. :)
Jan Ackerson
01/18/10
Entertaining and amusing!

If you ever expand this, consider adding dialog to your narrative, for a more story-like feel.

I've started a class in the FaithWriters forums for Beginner and Intermediate writers. I'd love to see you there--look for "Jan's Writing Basics".

Loved the kicker--lots of fun to read.