I sit and wonder what all this world is coming to. And I realize that I can’t change the world, only in my small corner can I influence. I can’t change how people act on social media or their stances on this disease or why their tones are angry and rude about their politics or why my kids make foolish choices or erase all of the pain of all my friends. All the big problems of the world and my communities are too big to bear. I give them over to the sovereign God.
I can only live out my faith in this small corner, in this home, with a handful of people. This is my call. I am weak, unable to shoulder the bigger societal burdens that others seem to do with ease. I am learning how to ground myself in the here and now, in these walls, offering love and grace to my family, nurturing them in the midst of this hurricane of life. I have to give and serve a few outside of that. My circles cannot be too big. I pray for a sense of holy compassion for the pain of the world and also a holy detachment to not bear and absorb what my soul is unable to. Empathetic detachment is the path that I walk tentatively, filled with missteps both ways.
It is okay to turn down the volume, to step away from the phone, the news, the daily updates. Cultivate peace, first thing. Chronic accessibility is the great disruptor to our peace and joy these days. We need to make sure our heart is tender to our actual neighbor, serving here in our real-life spheres, before taking up the latest battle cry for the world. Social media would have us take up so many causes, but we have to discern our local calling which is messier, more vulnerable, and less exciting. Not many dopamine hits for that.
Center down. Breathe deeply. Care for a few, really well. Be okay with your very average community of people, and offer stability, presence, and love. Slow down the input because it’s asking you to make too many decisions about so many things and it’s making you tired. Live small and faithful.
I hope your Monday evening is quiet even as you are going.
Aimee
I am so grateful that you use this "little corner" to encourage us! Wise words today. I too am feeling the "muchness" of it all.
I think these are words from God to me through you. I needed these wise reminders. Thank you, Aimee!