Embarrassing Email Mistakes?

Have you ever hit send on an email only to realize moments later that you sent it to the wrong recipient? What about that feeling of terror for accidentally sending a text message to a wrong person?

That could be embarrassing. But this one, which I had read long time back, is disastrous!

A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel plans. So, the husband left Minneapolis and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My loving wife

Subject: I've arrived Date: April 6, 2006

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. sure is freaking hot down here!

But not all mail sent astray is disastrous. See how God works in my case.

I have had quite an embarrassing time in recent weeks for flooding the first pastor of my Church, Rev David MacDonald with mails not related to him. I was creating a group for my Girls' Brigade contacts and accidentally adding him to this group. I started off sending a group photo taken during the annual general meeting. Then, the group members responded with "reply to all" on comments and thanks. Later I sent out the minutes of the meeting to the same group. I also sent out requests for articles and photographs in the newsletter. And the mails go round and round with Rev David in the list for each of the mails. (pix: yours truly with Rev & Mrs David MacDonald)

Finally, Rev David broke his silence, in a nicest way and it was in fact, an answer to my prayers while I was at the crossroad on my ministry. Rev David wrote -

Many thanks for sending the GB information including the lovely picture we recognised a number of faces which brought back happy memories of last year. I notice Dr Lau continues as Chaplain please give him my greetings if and when you meet him again .) You will be interested to hear that yesterday I spoke at our local Methodist Women's Fellowship on the role of womenfolk in today's Sarawak Church. Needless to say I talked a little about your own fine contribution to the work both in Wesley Church and of course GB involvement and also in Christian witness through your daily work. When preparing the talk on Monday Audrey said 'Don't forget to mention your kindness in staying up all night to print off the CD discs of our visit! ...I didn't forget! After the meeting quite a few of the womenfolk said how they had been encouraged by what they heard.

I then took all the GB information to our 1st Ponteland G.B. Captain Caroline Dodds who works in an office next to the Church. She was so pleased to receive it especially as she had written to the national GB HQ asking to be put in touch with another company. So this is an answer to prayer!

Keep in touch - we are always so pleased to hear the latest news from Sibu - You are daily in my thoughts and prayers and give our warmest greetings to the Wesleyans - may Easter be a time of great blessing.

Audrey joins in sending love and greetings.

God works in mysterious ways and turning all things for good. Romans 8:28

Having shared how God works for those mails which have gone astray, I also wish to share that Google has added a “panic button” to their list of email services. For five seconds after hitting ’send’ on an email, you’ll have the option of retracting the message.

The Google designer who came up with the idea says that five seconds is generally enough time to save yourself from your most embarrassing email mistakes. Maybe it takes hitting that ’send’ button to realize the error of your ways?