There is a cartoon from New Yorker magazine that has been making the rounds on the interwebs lately. This cartoon shows two people – a man and a woman – walking along a city sidewalk, deep in conversation. The woman turns to the man and says, “My desire to stay informed is currently at war with my desire to stay sane.”

AMEN, sister! I hear you LOUD and CLEAR!

I will confess to being a “stay informed” kind of guy by nature. I like to know what tomorrow’s weather is going to be, for example, so I will know how to dress. I like to listen to the latest analysis of my team’s strengths and weaknesses by recognized experts. That way I can better prepare to either celebrate or sulk.

If I am not mistaken, I believe the NEWS was where I first heard about the discovery that COVID-19 was primarily spread through airborne mists discharged from noses and mouths. Which was, in some respects, a giant relief. [WHEW! I thought. No more spraying my groceries with bleach when I return from a trip to the store.]

But as fixated as have been (and am) on news and current events in the world, I am suddenly asking myself WHY? 

• Why do I feel the need to lap up every morsel of news that wafts across the airwaves and into my brain? 
• Why have I deemed it so bloody important to know the detailed biography of the man tapped to serve as Secretary of Transportation? 
• Does it really, truly matter to me that crypto currency is suddenly a hot place to invest?
• How is our quality of existence in this cozy corner of Colorado affected by the revelation that Beyonce just set an all-time record for Grammy nominations?

Am I learning about all these important world events for a reason? Am I gathering all the facts about world events so that I might stand up and DO something about them?

No. Not really. Anymore my exposure to news about the blowing of the political winds in Washington, D.C. (or Rome, or Tel Aviv, or Kiev, or Botswana) only seems to lead to elevated blood pressure, heightened anxiety, and deepened despair. 

Why do I need ANY of that?

Please understand… I am not suddenly advocating for the virtues of a hermit’s existence – living in a cave, completely cut off from the rest of the world. I am, on the other hand, trying to figure out a way to tread that fine line between INFORMED and INSANE. 

To try and cope with this dilemma, I did an experiment the other day. On my drive to the health club where I go to work out, I turned the radio OFF for the whole 15-minute trip. I proceeded in silence, listening to the wind blow and letting my thoughts play. I talked to God. I listened for God’s reply. [Apparently God was busy with another, more pressing customer at that moment.] I counted the number of Teslas I passed. I brainstormed options for dinner that night. I remembered Thanksgivings from long ago.

And would you believe it? Before I knew what had happened, I was pulling into the parking lot, scanning for empty spaces. 

Silence heals. Stillness restores. Stepping out of the fray – even if just for a moment or two – is a balm for the soul. Psalm 46:10 exhorts us, “Be still and know that I am God.” 

The poet Chandra Tyler Mountain contributes this thought for those who are feeling beset in these tumultuous times:

Be still.
© Chandra Tyler Mountain

Be still.
Don’t move-
not your hands,
not your heart.

Feel the quiet,
soundless wonder
of your inner musings.

The question yet formed
will find you,
and fit inside your mouth
like pieces of a puzzle.

Learn to listen,
walk through,
and wait for the answer.

(find more gems like this from Chandra at https://iamchandralynn.com)

I am not prepared to go “cold turkey” on my consumption of the news as a result of this experiment. But I am absolutely prepared to spend a much larger percentage of my day nestled in the bosom of sweet silence, listening for My Master’s Voice.

Abundant blessings;