I had the privilege (or misfortune) of being in Afghanistan in 2014 during the nation's Presidential election. What was particularly noteworthy about this election was that if all went according to plan, it would mark the first democratic transfer of power in the history of Afghanistan. The feat was heralded by the UN and held up as a remarkable victory for human rights.
This morning, the United States sits on the verge of its own democratic transfer of power. If all goes according to plan, this will mark our 46th to be more exact. If you had told 2014-me that in 2021 we would need thousands of National Guardsmen in DC to ensure that this happened without a hitch, I'm not sure I'd have believed you.
Such is life and such is the current state of affairs. There is much that is uncertain in our world. But I am certain that over the next several weeks or months, our media (both social and otherwise) will be consumed with the current state of affairs. It's good to be concerned and it's good to care (to an extent) about the events of our day. It is not good to be consumed by them.
Of course - herein lies our problem. On the one hand, well meaning people like me will suggest that we not be consumed by the events going on around us. And a subtle voice will whisper from within, "But isn't that irresponsible?" And the Media will tell us, "You need to care about this." And our "friends" on social media will chide, "If you don't care about this particular cause as much as I do, then you are A) an objectively bad person, B) not a Patriot, or C) going to Hell." (Or a startling combination of all three at once).
So...what are we to do? With a chaotic world drowning in violence, fear, and uncertainty? And a self-reinforcing loop of angst urging us not to leave if we know what's good for us?
In the words of everyone's favorite snow queen, "Let it go."
As we were watching Frozen the other night for the thousandth time, I realized that Elsa really didn't take her own advice. Of course, she runs to the hills, casts off all self restraint and imprisons herself in an icy fortress of solitude frantically pacing back and forth to gain control of her out of control world.
Whatever else she may have done, she did not let it go.
This should not surprise us - letting it go is hard. And it's hard because these various events - whether they are small and local or large and global - actually matter. We know that things happening in our world, from Presidential Elections to Pandemics, have dire consequences for our future. We feel the existential tug. And so we do the only thing that we can actually do about them....we worry.
But worry is hardly a worthwhile way of living. Jesus explained it very simply and very rationally: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV)
The simple answer is...NO. You cannot. There are a great many things you have no control over and worrying about them will do you no good. Instead, the invitation from Jesus was: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV)
Or as Jesus would have known from the Psalms: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22, NIV)
And as Peter, a disciple of Jesus, later paraphrased in one of his letters: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
All of the stuff - the burdens and worries and cares and concerns of your life - you need to let it go. It is an unbearable burden that will crush you if you do not release it.
You may be tempted to agree with me at this point, but I know there is another sneaky voice of religious obligation that will pipe up: "But don't I need to love people? Didn't God tell us we need to love the world? Isn't that a command?"
Well, no it's not actually. And in case you think that was a typo, I'll do it again: No, it's not.
Jesus never commanded you to love the world. And he didn't do that because he didn't make you to do it. You know whose job it is to love the world? It's God's job. You are not God. And as Dallas Willard said, we'd be better off if we stopped meddling in his business.
What Jesus did invite us into was the opportunity to love our neighbor. And who is my neighbor? (I'm glad you asked.) He answered that exact question in a story: “In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.” (Luke 10:30–33, NIV)
As with all things that Jesus said, there are many, many layers of meaning. But very simply, answer the question - who's my neighbor?
Well...it's the person who's right in front of you. And how does the Samaritan love? He does it by showing mercy (as the good scribe later notes, Luke 10:37).
For the people who cross your path each day, love them as you love yourself. Will their good and work to promote that through your actions and words.
But what about all those situations that cross your News Feed? All the things that are not immediately present to you but seem so important? The most loving thing to do (for yourself and others) is to give them to God in prayer. Worry is not love and love is not worry.
So this week, do not let your hearts be troubled by events in the world that you have no control over. Release them to God, because he cares about you and he cares about them. Let God be God and let You be You. Love the people around you and release the world to God's care and control- everyone will be better off for it.
Let it go.
P.S. - If you'd like more help on those fronts, there's a couple great resources I'd like to share with you. The first comes from Pete Grieg...he's got a boatload of resources on this page. But in particular, he's got a helpful way for praying in a crisis. It's worth your time. Second, one of the mainstays of my life over the last year has been the One Minute Pause app from John Eldridge and his team, Wild at Heart. I could not recommend it highly enough. And if you'd like a better analysis of this idea, I'd recommend John's book, Get Your Life Back.
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