Rest for Your Soul

Dr. Wendell Cantrell has kindly allowed me to publish an article he wrote for CVM Outreach Herald, February 2011.

Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, `We will not walk in it.' (Jeremiah 6:16)Balance with technologyIn the 21st century this will be one of the hardest issues we wrestle with. In the last ten years I have become much more of a history buff. The following snippet caught my attention as it relates to our brave new world.In the 18th century, the shipping industry was taking travelers to an exciting new world. Lord Admiral Nelson commented, “Beyond Gibraltar every man is a bachelor.” Sailors were leaving the known world where morality and accountability were tied to visibility with friends and family being seen every day and lifetime travel no further away than the next village. Heading past Gibraltar there was no visibility, unhindered freedom, and little personal accountability. John Newton, the famous hymn writer experienced this world on a slave ship and would later write, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”We are going to explore how we can be a wizard or a restless wretch with the same technology, based on personal choice. Let’s examine some statistics from our new frontier (Kaiser Family Foundation): • The average user spends 7.5 hours per day outside work with new media (I-pod, TV, laptop, cell phone).• Facebook users now number 500 million (not bad for a 19 year old Harvard sophomore developing the idea on a white board in his dorm room). It would be the third largest country in the world, were it real. Users make 60 million updates daily, with the average user spending one hour networking. • Texting among 18-24 year olds has more than doubled in the past 2 years from 600 per month to 1400 per month. There is growing tension between parents and teens over texting vs. talking. To many teens, a call seems rude and intrusive.So is social media the good way? Our theme verse for 2010 speaks of asking where the good way is. Certainly, it can be a good way, but let us examine briefly four ways that our hypersocialized culture** is affecting time- tested disciplines necessary for our relationships, our walk with the Lord, and our rest.• Reading. When was the last time you read a book cover-to-cover? When we are on the internet, we enter an environment that promotes cursory reading, distracted thinking, and superficial learning. The web is chipping away at our concentration and contemplation. We are now finding it harder to stay focused through long stretches of prose. • Silence. The soul needs silence. In silence we hear ourselves and we hear God. My soul waits in silence for God only… (Ps 62:1, 5). If you are not, please consider unplugging for your daily quiet time.• Accountability. In simpler times, morality and accountability were tied to visibility. In the 21st century it is far too easy to be invisible. We need personal as well as family accountability rules. Spouses and parents should have access to any online account. Would you be surprised if I told you that one third of the couples seeking help from our reconciliation ministry have issues with one of the spouses reconnecting on Facebook or other social networking site with an old friend? • Focus, concentration, and meditation. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. (Ps 77:12, 119:15). The average computer user changes screens 37 times per hour. Is the myth of multitasking robbing us of the time to set our mind on heavenly things?Please don’t jump to the conclusion that the author is a nostalgist focused purely on the good old days. There are certainly opportunities with our new technology and we can discuss those another time.
What are a few helps in balancing the digital life with real faces and feet?
1. Turn it off (at least for periods of time). Radio, TV, Computer, Cell phone, I Pod. We need to seriously redefine what is urgent and what can wait. 2. Screen the news. Certainly keep abreast of hard news, but Pop Culture?? Do we really need daily updates on the lives and ordeals of fallen celebrities?3. Get away for a silent retreat. It might be for a weekend, a day, or a half day. Take just your Bible and journal and listen to God alone.
Congratulations on finishing this article. The world is trying its very best to conform us into the secular pattern of media addiction and constant distraction. As we say no to this pressure, the world will take note and we’ll find rest for our souls.
RECIPES FOR REST:1. Eat dinner as a family at least three nights a week.2. Give each family member a hug for 21 days in a row (long enough to form a habit).3. Spend an evening going through old photos of special family events.4. Praise a family member in front of someone else.Next month we will look at the essential of managing our expectations.*Ideas for this series based on “Little House on the Freeway” by Tim Kimmel ** Christianity and our hypersocialized generation www.albertmohler.com