Friday, February 3, 2017

Five Minutes of Breathe

Linking with Five Minute Friday today. Here's the drill-write for five minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Link back to Five Minute Friday and invite others to join in too. Consider yourselves invited. Finally, be generous and leave an encouraging comment for the person who linked up before you. Here we go-

Today's prompt-Breathe

I haven't written much of substance on my blog lately, mostly because we've been going at mach speed round here since November, but also because everybody is so dang cranky all the time about all the things. Have mercy it is ex.haus.ting. Does anybody have the patience or stamina or time in their day for all the endless whining and complaining and judgy judgmental judgment we're living with right now?

Breathe. 

The online world that once upon a time connected us in so many fun and positive ways feels downright ugly. The real world feels that way too and it breaks my heart a little. A lot if I'm being honest. I don't want to dip so much as my pinky toe into the sea of nastiness that's out there right now and I honestly don't know how to navigate social media anymore. If the Internet were my child I would send her to her room.

Breathe. 

I was talking with friends recently (in person and face to face which is how ideas are best shared), and we all agreed you can't go to even the simplest of social gatherings anymore without considering what you're walking in to. Will anyone be there who doesn't demand you explain and defend your position on a whole laundry list of sizzling hot topics that you'd rather not get into with casual acquaintances? Can't we just talk about what's in the delicious chicken salad or some other equally inoffensive subject matter?

Breathe. 

I don't want my blog to be a place of controversy and I work hard to keep it a welcoming little corner of the Internet. It's just that anymore it's hard to know what in the world is going to set people off. And by set people off I mean what is going to cause someone to insult my intelligence, my thinking, my education, my part of the country, my belief system and more.

Recently I replied to a comment on Twitter and a woman who doesn't know me, who knows nothing about me, called me a liar. She also identified herself in her profile as a 'Christ follower'. Okay. Somehow that didn't feel very Christ-like to me. I let it go with a polite 'we disagree', because she doesn't know me and I don't know her and we're not going to know one another communicating 140 characters at a time.

Sometimes it's hard to breathe.

I think our parents generation got it right in their efforts not to bring politics into polite conversation. And Facebook? Facebook is just a mess, and because in real life I do have people I love and who are dear to me on all ends of the political spectrum, well it's a mess. It's not a place I want to be anymore.

I want to extend birthday wishes, learn about your travels, see your babies and your grandchildren, find out about great places to dine or hike or vacation, discover new music, hear about random acts of kindness encountered throughout your day, but that's such a small part of my news feed now it's almost not worth checking in.

So how do we blog when the air is thick with smoke and opinion? When voices thunder in ways that make you want to pull the covers over you head? How do we breathe?

For me I go back to what is true. I spend less time reading Internet words and more time reading God's word. I pray for our nation and her leaders and a world gone mad, and when I want to make a point, let my feelings be known, fire off a response to an unkind word or misstatement of fact, I take a step back and I breathe.

I think our natural desire to be right, to be heard, to make our opinion known says go-hit send-now-immediately.

I'm learning to fight my natural instinct.

I'm learning to let my words sit on the page overnight and see if they look and feel the same in the bright light of a new day. I ask myself does this need to be said and most importantly, do I need to be the one to say it? We all think we need to be the one to say 'it' but really do we? Does everything need to be said?

My girls called yesterday. We talked about grandbabies, pregnancy, smocked rompers, car troubles and sick puppies that strain our nerves and our bank accounts, the triumphs and challenges facing a kindergarten teacher, and how God knows about all the things. All of them. Every last bit of our everything. He is the air I breathe.

When I remember that breathing is easy.

17 comments:

  1. ". . . how God knows about all the things. All of them. Every last bit of our everything." Yes yes yes!!!! Thank you!!

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  2. I have found myself thinking many of these same things. People are just so angry and it's exhausting. I keep unfollowing on Twitter, because the vitriol is coming from the most unlikely sources. Just breathe is right!

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  3. I think that's what I enjoy about Instagram. I just enjoy the pictures and usually there's not a lot of garbage, at least on the ones I follow. I've learned on FB just to whizz on by the ones I'm not interested in. I whizz by quite a lot.

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  4. By the way, I forgot to say, I agree with you on this post 100% and think you said it very well.

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  5. Oh goodness did you ever put this perfectly. Everything going on right now has everyone in just a constant state of turmoil, and I can hardly bear it. I skim through facebook always hoping there is something I WANT to see (your list was perfect) and hoping not to distracted by what I don't want to be. A close family member has gone soooo weird on all of this I find myself struggling greatly over it. It has all sent me to reading more of God's Word and to my knees. He IS the air we breathe! Perfectly put! Enjoy your week-end!

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  6. And that, friend, is why I am not spending much time on Facebook these days. When I do, I post something sweet or funny just so people can laugh or go, "Awww!" The girls and I text all the time and chat on actual phone calls (imagine that) and I see 2 of them every day. That's what keeps me going. I can't even turn on the news anymore which is just fine with me. Instagram seems ok, so far. Who needs the internet when there's a cutie little granddaughter around? :) I'm sure I've said it before, but I do quite enjoy the way you write. Have a great weekend!

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  7. You said it so well, Joyce. Thank you! We need to trust the power of prayer. I'm doing a lot of that too!

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  8. Love this! You said so much. Yes! Let's send the internet to it's room! Yes! We won't get to know one another 140 characters at a time. I think somewhere along the way we bought a lie. I agree, it's time to use the internet wisely– to be quiet, to share the good, and to remember living breathing connection is what we were made for. <3 Your FMF neighbor

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  9. I think I lost my comment while signing in, but want to make certain you at least see this: Yes, to everything you said! What a great reminder. Thank you so much. <3 Your FMF neighbor

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  10. This is spot on Joyce. It seems like people are losing their minds. I was talking with a friend and we agreed there is SO much to pray for in our world. You are right, God knows about all the things. At least that is comforting.

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  11. Joyce, this is a wonderful blog post. You expressed things that have been on my mind. I love how you tidied it up near the end with how you read more of God's word and less of the Internet. This is what we all need to do.

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  12. Awesome! Awesome! You nailed it and said it better than anyone else. I truly do not know when or where it is all going to end. It is so very sad to me and that's why I will continue to just "breathe." Happy weekend!

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  13. Greetings, Joyce,
    Wow, well said. Facebook is a mess, I agree. I'm with you...scrolling down the page to see photos of babies, pets, and new recipes that our friends have tried.

    Enjoy what's left of the weekend. Take care, ~Natalie

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  14. I agree with you. I have been looking for a meme to post on Facebook but haven't found one yet. I think I need to make my own. I want it to say "I want my Facebook back! Show me your dinner, post your children and pets and share your vacation photos. Is that too much to ask!!!"

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  15. I have felt so unsettled and edgy lately. I am trying to find a balance between being educated and informed, and still keeping my sanity. I have pretty much stopped watching the news and now I quickly skim Facebook while constantly hitting the "hide post" button. I have realized that I was spending more time on social media than in prayer and Bible reading. Time to get back to the basics.
    Warmly, Gloria

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  16. This post is just excellent, Joyce. So, so true. I've never gotten into Facebook and right now I have never been more thankful for that. Love the idea of sending the internet to its room!

    Thanks for writing this. So timely and so helpful. Getting back to basics is going to keep us all anchored to the facts about God and His sovereignty.

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  17. Very well said! I couldn't agree more! I have been limiting my Facebook time, I check my messages and get off and I never did get Twitter so I'm not on there or any other site except blogger of course. I agree if and when we do post, just speak the truth, stay out of politics and don't argue with people that have to put in their nasty two cents. It's not worth it, they're not going to agree with you anyway...just breathe and let it go. ;)

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