I think the internet has been grooming us all for years to believe that if we don’t post comments or pics about our life on social media then maybe, just maybe, we aren’t truly living.

Come on, be honest. Especially you mommas. If you miss posting about some big event you feel a twinge of guilt. Yes? No? Never thought about it before? Seriously…be brutally honest with yourself for a moment.

Here- I’ll go first…I have. And then I stopped myself in my tracks when I realized what was happening. Got a sad aching in my gut.

Well, let’s just suffice it to say our actions speak louder. Just look at our numerous social media accounts. Doesn’t really matter which you use. They’re all the same in their results. They encourage shallow interactions. They perpetuate and, I believe CAUSE, short attention spans. Gosh, I’m pretty sure you probably won’t even read to the end if this blog post. (If you’ve made it this far)

So, what can we do about it? Disconnect completely? What about right now when the world is in chaos and there’s some new disaster report fresh off the press each morning? 

I’m pretty certain that most of us, even the ones who are more satisfied to remain disconnected to the world wide web, have found themselves scouring for the latest information. Searching, watching, reading and listening in to the chatter of others that are doing the same. To sum it up, there’s a billion different theories as to what’s up in our upside down world right now. 

I don’t have the answer, that’s for sure. I have a couple of opinions about how some of all this will eventually play out, which I’ll keep to myself. That’s not the point of this post, anyway.

The world is in chaos. Honestly, its been that way for quite some time. It just seems that the last month has been a whole new Richter scale of crazy. 

I turned off my Facebook account tonight. Temporarily. I just needed to turn down all the narratives and theories…step away from the negative virtual vibes. There’s a new heaviness and heartache that’s swept over me the last few days that I’m just not shaking off like I want to. Each morning I open my eyes and the sadness greets me (usually with the first disaster report, I mean, news headline, that scrolls across my screen).

What’s at the root of this sorrow? Its more than just concerns over the uncertainty of this pandemic. Its a whole lot deeper than even that. 

I’m filled with sorrow over the status of how socially distant the world already was, in spite of being told by the “powers that be” to distance themselves from one another. 

My heart aches at how easily people slid into more virtual “living” and seem somewhat numbingly content with it. 

I’m longing for these daily excruciatingly dreary clouds to clear and let us see sunshine again. That’s another thing! What has happened to our blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and Spring sunshine?! Its difficult enough to be told to quarantine at home. But, to get up every morning and see another day of dreary weather? Well, that’s just adding insult to injury, if you ask me!

The last sunny day we were blessed with, I took the kids out and seized those hours to take pictures of one of my favorite signs of early Spring. The bright yellow blooms of forsythia bushes and jonquils spell “hope” to me. Seeing them against the still brown backdrop of winter? I. Can. Breathe. I know it won’t be long. There will be green leaves on the trees swaying in gentle winds. There will be soft grassy lawns to walk barefoot on. And there will, once again, be blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

I have found that these last few weeks have challenged my peace. I’ve had to wrestle with worry and fear- I thought I was more stoic than that. I was wrong. Thanks to the internet, media, and mainstream news, there’s a steady stream of fear fodder 24/7. Turning it all off and socially distancing from your smartphone and tv is good medicine. I recommend trying it many times per day. 

The best remedy for anxiety and fear is the peace that God gives. I read His word. I fight my inner battles with prayer and keeping my eyes on what is true. (instead of the confusing narratives on social media and mainstream “news”)

“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”(Psalm 119:160)

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:5)

Whatever these uncertain, crazy days are, whatever comes of all this…those of us who rest on the unchanging truth of God’s words and His promises will always have something greater to look towards.

Spring is coming in full force and in all its warmth and glory. But, even better to put your hope in: Our Messiah, Yahshua(Jesus)! He’s coming someday to set right all that’s wrong in this upside down, confusing, backwards world. And because of this truth- I will lay my head down in peace tonight. 

Dear reader, if you made it to the end of this long post, I commend and thank you. You’ve got better focus than most people in this short-attention span society! Be blessed and stay healthy. Wash your hands. Eat your fruits and veggies, get good sleep, and exercise. Turn off the media regularly and go outside. But most importantly, put your hope in the One who has promised life eternal for those who place their trust in Him.

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Yahshua the Messiah. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:19-21)