We are a busy, frenzied people, living at a heightened level of stimulation that is unprecedented. Our “connections” to every member of our social circle have taken priority over connections to our family, our church, and our God.
Multitasking got you down?
If you doubt me, you need look no further than a McDonald’s. Yep, take a look at the next drive-thru you frequent. You’ll see signs asking that you not be on your cellphone when you pull up to the window. How have we become so senseless?
In our quest to be “connected” we are literally killing people. No? How many times have you been distracted by your phone while driving your one ton, lethal weapon? The privilege of driving has turned into a luxury, from the design of vehicles as comfortable as sitting on our living room sofas, to screens glowing and telling us our every turn. Throw in a cellphone, just begging for our attention, and we could be branded serial killers.
The original road rage!
We’re so afraid to be bored, uncomfortable with any pause, so hooked on being “plugged in” that we sit at our dinner tables in a glazed silence, keeping company with our screens instead of each other.
Distracted much? Don’t let this happen to your family.
I hope you’ll forgive me my boldness here; it’s just that I might be from the last generation that doesn’t remember things always being this way. I remember a time when there wasn’t anything to be “plugged in” to. I wasn’t “connected” because there was no internet. When we were restless as kids, we were usually sent outside. Imagination and nonsense had room and time to flourish.
This is what we looked like…in my head.
If we were uncharacteristically restless, as most children are in a semi-constant state of being, I remember my grandmother admonishing us to “be still”.
When was the last time you were still? I don’t know what God wants to speak into your life, but I do know that He wants to talk with you. And how will you hear Him, if you’re as distracted as we’ve all become?
So much of our relationship with the Lord is built on listening. Maybe this is why we see over and over again in the Bible the reminder to “be still”.
Take this passage, for example:
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
He could have just told us that He’s God, so why begin with the words “be still”?
It seems like every time I really need to get my kids’ attention I have to make sure they’re listening. They need to stop what they’re doing in order to pay attention to me. As children of the Lord, we too need reminders to cease with our distractions in order to hear what He has to say.
Here’s another bit of Scripture to think on:
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
God wants so much to strike up a conversation with each of us, but if He whispered would you hear Him?
Are you listening?
Over and over, we are told to settle down and be quiet:
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
You mean we have permission to “unplug” ourselves? Yes! C’mon, get bored with me.
May your rest in the Lord produce bed head!