I ran some errands, got a haircut, did my chores and some cooking and cleaning.
After the dishes were done, I settled into my chair with the book I bought a couple of days ago.
Then I got a notification--you know that compelling "ding" that says we must check NOW to see who's calling/texting/sharing.
Before I knew it, I had spent hours spiraling down the internet's many rabbit holes.
From political filth, to funny AI-generated cat videos (they crack me up!), to reels of overnight sensation Hannah Harper, now a contestant on American Idol, to Super Bowl snack ideas, I took it all in.
Then, listening to the news this morning while I ate breakfast, I thought how interesting and bizarre our American lives are. (I'm sure it's this way everywhere.)
There's the disturbing news segments delivered in somber tones, then seconds later, the anchors are chipper as bluebirds in spring as they talk about football and entertainment.
The opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics are tonight. This weekend, there's the Super Bowl, and all the surrounding buzz. The interwebs will be hummin' with commentary on the game, the half-time show, the commercials--all part of the good ol' American way of life.
I love it! While at the same time, I hate it. Most of it is just noise.
I don't really care who wins the Super Bowl or the Olympics. I really don't even care who is in political power--as long as they are people of integrity. But it's not that simple. People are enormously complicated and hard to figure out.
While sports themselves aren't of great importance to me, I do love the stories. There promises to be some doozies coming out of both the Olympics and the Super Bowl.
For example, Sea Hawks linebacker Derick Hall is said to have been born 4 months prematurely, without a heartbeat at first, weighing only a couple of pounds, and he had only a one percent chance of survival. Look at him now! Incredible.
His story and many others are truly inspiring.
We could use some of that right now. To restore our faith in humanity.
But should we have faith in humanity?
Probably not. I mean, just look at our history. Collective humanity's history.
Mess up after mess up over the millenniums.
It's easy to become discouraged and disillusioned by all of this.
Yet we, the human race, are capable of a lot of good, a lot of shining moments.
I do believe God loves His creation still. And that's it. Our faith needs to be in Him.
I've been reading in Isaiah this morning. Isaiah has some harsh prophecies to direct at God's chosen people, but they are tempered with God's yearning for his people to return to him.
Isaiah prophesies many woes--downfalls of nations that glory in their own perceived power, to be no more.
But, in Isaiah 30, we are shown a way out. "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Amid all the promises of judgement are promises of restoration for those who return to him.
For the Christian, returning needs to be a daily process. It's so easy to get side-tracked. I'll admit it.
Sometimes I pick up an old hymnal and flip through it, and I'll come across a song that lifts my spirits or fits the particular circumstance of the day just right.
This song really spoke to me this morning.
O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
There's light for a look at the Savior. Just think about that.
And in turning to look at Him, there is life more abundant and free!
How easy it is to let the noise deafen us to these truths.
Now, I'm not one who thinks we should not stay informed, that we should stick our heads in the sand and pretend there's no trouble in the world.
But I do think there's a place for perspective.
"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Amen!
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