Sacred Moments

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

This undiscovered gem is tucked away in the Bible after Jesus was born. The shepherds came and worshiped. Everyone was talking about what had happened, about the angels and star and the baby born in a stable.

But Mary, the one who had actually been a key player in these events, the one who probably had the most to say, kept them in her heart. 

In an age where our whole lives seem to be splayed open for the world to see, I wonder if there is more that we should keep sacred. 

It's not to say that we cannot share parts of our lives on social media. Or that we cannot share joy. But often I will read something on social media about a relationship that I wonder if it should have ever been posted. I find myself wanting to close the door to their inner lives; ask them to close the blinds. 

There are sacred moments in life. Times with husband or children or family. Meaningful conversations with friends. Do we really want to invite the world at large to peer into our most sacred moments, our most intimate conversations and hearts? 

Personally, I do not. In the past, I have been guilty of over-sharing intimate details that, while perhaps not embarrassing or gross, still ought to have constituted as private. 

It's one thing to share a beautiful, sacred moment with friends in person, and quite another to upload it to your social media outlet of choice, thereby handing anyone with an internet connection the keys to your soul.

This picture from the National Geographic photo galleries (Photo taken by David Doublet) reminds me of what it feels like to put your opinions online - surrounded by a school of barracuda.

Restraint may not be for you. You may be completely comfortable with sharing your life online. But this flinging wide the doors of my heart for all to see is an area of life in which I have been convicted. While I want to be more honest with people, I also want to strengthen my filter. There are some things that are meant to stay between the people who were there. 

Related to this is the phenomenon that we don't seem to be able to process information anymore. We'll spit a question or observation into the world wide web and chatter back and forth. But how often do we consider it in our minds? 

We have lost the discipline of pondering, I think.

We think in soundbytes or statuses or tweets. How often do we turn over an issue in our own minds or hearts? How often do we seek out one or two people to discuss a matter with at a time, at length, as opposed to opening up a world wide forum?

In person, it's easier to be on the fence about an issue; to weigh it in our minds and consider angles and implications. But it seems that online, we've got to passionately put a stake in the ground. We have to draw a line on every issue. Everything turns into a battle because for the first time in the history of the world, anyone in the world can and does voice their noisy opinions. At a point, this ceases to become a sharing of opinions and crosses the line into becoming cacophony.

Connection is not bad. It is an incredible thing that we are able to connect instantly with people across the globe and it has, overall, opened up the discussion to opinions and thoughts previously unavailable to us. It has widened the conversation. It allows us to connect with loved ones in ways previously unfathomable. I should say that this is overall a good thing. 

But where is the balance? At what point are we bowing down the god of information and research? We have information like at our fingertips like never before.

I'm arguing that this is not as good as some people think.

Because we have become more like conduits for information, rather than consumers and digesters. The quantity and quality of online information can be overwhelming and unhealthy. We jump from one article to the next, always seeking more. More information. More research. More opinions. More tips. More tricks. More articles. But when do we ever pause to consider what we've learned? When was the last time you considered and applied something that you read online?

This phenomenon has contributed to a good deal of over-thinking and even anxiety in my life. And yes, this may just be me. But I have a suspicion that if more people stopped and thought about it, they might realize that they too have suffered ill effects from this overstimulated race to consume more facts.

Facts are dead and bare. They are naked. Without context, facts are useless. Without wisdom, knowledge is dangerous and empty. 

Perhaps before we pose a question to the world, we ought to consider and digest it ourselves before spouting off an answer and shooting from the hip.



{Will you join me in pausing and considering sacred moments truly sacred? Will you join me in seeking context and wisdom and not just empty facts?}

Let's Talk

There were about 10 or so of us waiting on a meeting to begin. There were some greetings and small conversations that took place and then--

I sat back in my chair and watched.

Clipart Image from https://socialtimes.com/mobilecontenttoday/files/original/SMS_Messaging_Clipart.jpg

Everyone in the circle took out their phones and began looking at them-intently. It was fascinating. I was in a room with all of these people-and none were talking-but possibly viewing their calendar, participating in the “virtual world” or texting someone-I don't know-regardless, verbal interaction was not taking place.

I see conversation as the opportunity for beautiful moments, for problem-solving, for creative dreaming, and for encouraging growth. Why do people feel the urge to jump and check the machines in our pocket or purse with every buzz, ding, or ring?

What would really happen if we started talking to each other?

Maybe you've had been in a scenario similar to the following:

Someone asks you how you're doing, you say, “Fine, how are you?” -and inside you're thinking,
“My life is crazy, you have no idea how insane it seems.”

or

You hear someone explaining a struggle they're having performing a skill at work or expressing a frustrating relationship issue-and when a pause occurs in the conversation, you say something like, “That does sound frustrating” or “I'm sorry to hear that”-and inside you're thinking, “I struggled with that same skill for months” or “Wow, I can totally understand that frustration, they're not the only one feeling that way”

I've seen this pattern in our society where it seems that we are obsessed with how we appear. Beyond the outward appearance, there is concern that we will appear weak or maybe out of control by expressing that we don't have everything together-and maybe we are really, truly struggling with something that seems major to us.

But----perhaps, we're really all more SIMILAR than we realize.

I find there can be beautiful common ground, new ideas, great comfort, and learning that can occur when people share with each other. Sometimes just knowing that I'm not the only one who has struggled with a certain issue, or thought a certain thought, can bring comfort. It's nice to not feel alone in an experience.

For Christians consider,

“23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25

We're called to encourage each other. Life is hard. I encourage you to reach out to those around you and have a conversation. Talk about what's going on in each other's lives, share experiences, and pray for each other. The challenge extends to ignoring that buzz of a text when you're engaged in a conversation and to take concentrated time to focus on the person you're with.

Take the challenge-talk, listen, and share with the people in your life-you might be surprised how blessed the interaction can be.