Rev. Richard Smith
| Isaiah 40:28-29 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. |
None of us would question that it’s really easy to find oneself worn out by the cascade of bad news coming our way in our world today.
The Pandemic And All Its Repercussions;
The Increasing Political, Cultural and Social Tensions;
The Ongoing Global Weather Disasters;
The Global and National Financial Challenges;
The Seeming Daily Increase In Personal Violence;
Etc.
The central question is…How do we maintain spiritual and emotional equilibrium when all around us there is this litany, this cascade of problems and challenges?
First, We Need To Disconnect
I think we each personally have to have regular disconnect from the bombardment of daily news. Like you, I think, I find myself constantly looking to my IPAD or my IPhone or my computer for breaking news or news updates. I might as well as confess that I’m writing this particular blog for me as much as anyone else.
Some of you have heard me mention Dr. Richard Swenson and his book titled, Margins. In that book, he says that “overload is the disease of the modern era”. He, of course, is talking about the overload of schedules, activities, and responsibilities to which we regularly commit.
I would venture that “news” overload is an equally concerning matter. We can’t expect to feel mental and emotional relief if we’re constantly tethered to our devices and the non-stop news reports.
Just as “finding margin”, “taking a break”, is Dr. Swenson’s recipe for healthier living, so it is for our news overload. With this writing, I’m committing to periods of time each day when I do not look to or listen to the latest news.
Secondly, We Need To Focus On The Simple Daily Joys Of Life
In our most stressful moments and experiences there are still simple but profound joys. God breaks through our stressed and harried lives with little moments of joy, serendipitous moments of blessing, but we have to have eyes to see them and ears to hear them. We need to be attentive to these special enriching moments. It might be…
A moment of laughter
A moment of affection
A moment of affirmation
A moment of satisfaction
A moment of wonder
A moment of kindness
A special moment with a friend or family member.
Take some time, spend some reflective moments, noting these life-giving experiences which feed and nourish our souls.
Finally, We Can Memorize And Repeat Daily The Serenity Prayer
Most of us know the opening lines of The Serenity Prayer authored by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in 1943. But, it’s the remaining part of his original prayer which needs our deeper attention.
The prayer, in essence, invites us to take note of how we live our hours daily, of the trust we need to place in God, and of the response we make to the present and future God is bringing and will bring. Here is his full prayer (updated somewhat from his original):
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that cannot be changed;
the courage to change the things which can be changed;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to your will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
| rs-ponderings.com |
