Tag: Anxiety

Posted in Different Scriptures

His Lordship…our peace.

Posted on by Wick

Recently I was preaching and I asked the question; “How often do we respond from a place of defending and protecting Jesus anxiously as if His future depended on us?” A friend on the way out of church that morning asked me “But what does that look like?” His question is one that I think we’re often seeking together as the body of Christ. If we’re honest, I think it would sometimes be easier if we just had a clear word “do this” or “avoid doing this”.

I keep trying to put the answer into one specific measurable response, but it keeps crawling away from me.

I think it’s because of this: Two people may be involved in precisely the same activity. Perhaps it’s feeding the hungry, ministering to a person in prison, or even something like being politically engaged. One person has gotten involved out of a grateful response to, and desire to join the Love of Jesus in action. They are confident in the Lordship of Jesus, and the peace of His Lordship permeates their words and actions. Gladly enjoying His new reality, they want to help others know the Loving Truth they’ve discovered as His child. They’re taken up the “armor of God” (Ephesians 6) to stand firmly in Jesus’ Lordship, even when the schemes of Satan (the deceiver) come. They are firm in His Truth, living in His righteousness, ready in His peace, and shielded by faith. They have His salvation firmly protecting/healing their heart/mind, and allow the Holy Spirit/Jesus to be their only weapon, knowing the battle is not against flesh and blood. Our calling is to stand as victors already, confident in the New Reality our Lord has begun.

The other person has become involved out of an anxious response to feeling as if their world is threatened and they need to do something to regain or protect control of things. They’re defensive, poised for battle, and looking for ways to defeat any opponent who seems to rise. On the surface, some of their moments may look very similar. The hungry are fed. The prisoner is ministered to. But because they have different sources of motivation – they will naturally exist and respond differently in such moments…reflecting their perceived purpose there. They know Ephesians 6 talks about being strong and putting on armor, but they see a world that needs to be conquered “in the name of Jesus”. They will wield what they consider to be their “sword”, pieces of scripture, as if the Word of God must be weaponized to be effective. Without peace in their hearts, they will be drawn into every argument and potential argument, feeling as if Jesus and His ways/word need to be defended or used “effectively” – otherwise evil might still somehow “win”.

But our “struggle” from Ephesians 6:12 is not against an enemy in a battle still raging between two armies. Our struggle is against the last remaining fighters of an already defeated army, still hiding in places of darkness. We stand confidently in the peace of Jesus’ Lordship (Ephesians 1:20-23), as we watch His Spirit complete the victory declared long ago at His resurrection. That doesn’t mean things will always go well for us – in fact, there have been many martyrs who stood in His Lordship. Yet even in such moments, a reality beyond the temporal one that claims power over us is revealed, and by His Spirit we are enabled to rest in the Truth of His eternal Lordship more than our comfort/power in this life. Such a death testifies to a reality worth dying for…which is the reality we believe is worth living for as well.

May our lives reveal the reality of God’s Love revealed in Jesus and the Lordship of the Lamb even now…

Posted in Different Books

are you blocking experiences?

Posted on by Wick

Everyone seems to be talking about this – yet I recognize some of my readers (hi mom) may not read the same sources I do. For this reason, I wanted to share something important that’s being recognized (or affirmed) in recent publications. Jonathan Haidt, who is not a believer but considers himself “religion friendly”, is a social psychologist with a lot of research to back up what he’s saying. What is his newest book confirming that most of us have already been aware of? “..the smartphone-driven “great rewiring of childhood” is causing an “epidemic of mental illness.”

It’s been on my mind a lot lately, especially as different stories have hit major news outlets. Schools in Canada are banding together for lawsuits against social media companies. What’s their accusation? “They were reckless and malicious, manipulating the brain neurochemistry of young students, getting them hooked on social media platforms, and, in doing so, causing widespread damage and disruption to the education system.“

Within a week of reading that story, I also read about schools in the US increasingly looking to hire “Chaplains”, in response to the current mental health crisis. I think it’s great that schools understand learning requires a safe environment, but also a “felt” safe environment, which means helping students cope with unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression.

But with schools in Canada, and hiring chaplains in the US, and a myriad of other responses to what is happening, it seems like we’re missing a major point. I think we’re missing it on purpose usually, because it’s a lot easier than owning our role. We’re pointing fingers at others, or employing others and tasking them with bringing healing, while abdicating our role in any of this. The truth is – each of us has agency in responding to the problem. And it is a problem. Despite what those who profit from these devices and services may say in defense. I’m generally the opposite of an alarmist (ask my wife), and I’m immediately skeptical of anything someone says to try and illicit an urgent response. So I’ll wait a moment while you Google as needed to find the stats and confirm what I’m saying here. The kids are not okay.

But there is hope.

Remember what it was like growing up in a world where loving adults were placed in positions of authority and care over children?

Whether or not that was your reality, that does seem to be the intent. Whether you’re a believer who credits this within the grand design of God, or whether you’re a non-believer who credits this within the survival of the fittest – there’s a truth to it. Those who have survived longer are placed in positions of guidance and authority over those still developing a pre-frontal cortex.

Every time we’ve experienced this sort of “learning” in modern times, we’ve instituted controls to protect those who are most vulnerable because of their age. We’ve set minimum ages for drinking or smoking, because these substances are harmful and addictive. It wasn’t immediate, and there were difficult moments in instituting these controls, but they were worth the struggle. Our children, and the future generations of healthy adults who will help lead this world into a future of flourishing – are worth it.

So what are the 4 primary recommendations being given by Haidt, as one small but tangible way to make a major impact on the mental health of our youth (and subsequently help foster a tomorrow where adults are mentally/emotionally well-prepared)? Here they are:

  1. No smartphones before High School age. (Parents/guardians – we can do this!)
  2. No social media before age 16 (and hold companies accountable for this, in the same way stores are accountable for checking ID’s before sales of alcohol/tobacco).
  3. No phones in schools. (Seriously, why is this one so hard to see?)
  4. Prioritizing real-world play and independence.

If we took this list seriously, it would make a major impact immediately. If homes and places of education adopted these as norms – students wouldn’t feel the pressure to “keep up/plugged in” simply because their friends were. Sure, most youth would go through a difficult withdrawal phase. We’d have to adapt to new routines, and trust that we could all survive. Everyone reach out to your favorite helicopter parent, and give them extra affirmation – making your kids “unreachable” during the school day is actually good parenting.

One thing Haidt says over and over again, is that these devices are “Experience Blockers”. His book even includes a chapter which seems significant for a nonbeliever to include. The importance of a shared religious experience, or spiritual community that we are committed to, can make such an important impact on fostering a strength that we and our children both need. Of course it should be obvious by this point – as adults, we should be leaving our phones behind (or at least turning them off, not just silencing them) whenever we enter church on Sunday mornings (and other times of devotion/reading/prayer throughout the week).

Yes, devices offer us significant experiences as well. But this doesn’t mean they’re 100% without potential for great damage. There are plenty more links and books I could suggest, but I think the best evidence would simply be to tell you – go unplug from devices for the next 60 minutes. See how you feel afterward. Don’t we think this is needed more, across the generations?

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

everything must be captured.

Posted on by Wick

It could simply be that I’ve just finished reading “The Circle” by Dave Eggers, but the new Apple holiday ad strikes me as illustrating an important question: How much is “enough”?

I know it may come across as “bah, humbug”, because everyone seems to love this ad.

But I’m not a huge fan.

Many years ago, we’d have been happy to have one still-shot picture that reminded us of an entire day, perhaps even an entire trip.  Then digital cameras hit, and we have unlimited shots.  Then video became easier to fit on small storage, so we need to get lots of videos, etc.  Now most of our cell phones have the capability to do what complex digital cameras did years ago.

So the above ad illustrates what they hope will be a positive message.  “Don’t misinterpret that young man in the corner using his cell phone most of the trip, because he may actually be using it to put together a warm, heart-felt family collage that will touch your heart.”  Riiiiiight.  Even if the teens hiding in technology corners this holiday season have these things in mind……my question is, “Is it worth it?”

Many of us have attended “Holiday” events already this season, where we sit back to take in the show, only to have several tiny screens pop-up in front of us – as eager parents (myself included) try to capture some images/video of the precious moment.  The same goes for every event that happens throughout our days.  I think I’ve posted on this before, but it deserves to be thought of, as many of us head into precious family hours together.

Sure, snap some pictures.  Snap some video.  But don’t elevate capturing the moment for later to become more important than being 100% present in experiencing the moment right now.  Create more memories, and less photo-books.  Our Grandparents seem like far less anxious people for a reason – it’s not just because they’re old.  It’s because most of them grew up knowing how to be completely present in the moment.  Not able to capture every sight and sound, they were content to actually breathe slow and deep these moments of being together….or alone.

Not to romanticize being “technology-less”…the video of family the boy makes is pretty great, and will be meaningful for the family as the years pass.  But let’s notice what he sacrifices to make that video too.  May our children know we value experiencing moments with them, more than capturing those moments for later…