Apple presents …

Reality is spiritual, harmonious, immutable, immortal, divine, eternal.
— Mary Baker Eddy 

I never met Steve Jobs, but his work has been a part of my life for many, many years. He was part of my first encounter with journalism — we used an Apple IIe to produce the school paper when I was in fourth grade — and 27 years later, I’m laying out pages on a souped-up 2009 MacBook. It is not an exaggeration to say that the tools he created radically altered the course of my life. Without the Mac, I might never have discovered my fondness for page design — an affinity that ultimately led me into a career as a copy editor, introduced me to my husband, got us to Tulsa, led me to my current job, and introduced me to many dear, dear friends along the way. Indirectly, I can trace most of the good things in my life to this man’s work, and for that, I owe him a debt of gratitude I can never repay. There are those who claim Apple products are too expensive. Given their impact on my life, I’d consider them a bargain at twice the price.

With that in mind, you can imagine my sadness when I picked up my iPad this evening and read of his passing.

In Christian Science, we learn that man is a reflection of God — an expression of divine nature. We define this nature in many ways. God, Mrs. Eddy says in her writings, is divine Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle.

I’ve always appreciated Steve Jobs as an expression of Mind. His creativity, intelligence, and refusal to tolerate artificial limits allowed him to turn sci-fi daydreams into everyday realities and show us possibilities we might never have considered. We may no longer see his familiar smile behind wire-rimmed glasses, but we will feel his presence wherever we find imagination, innovation, and practicality.

Travel well, Mr. Jobs — and thanks for the memories.

Emily

P.S.: Steve Jobs’ passing was actually the second tragedy to visit my world today. This afternoon, Ron and I said goodbye to Ms. Pushy Galore, the buff Orpington hen whose outgoing demeanor and insatiable curiosity made her a great favorite in our garden. Ron found her little body next to the feeder in the backyard. We saw no signs of trauma and assume she passed away peacefully. Her antics will be missed.