The title is meant to be contradictory. Many things in life are measured not only in a granular fashion, but in a form of tension. For example, Watching too much TV can induce multiple issues in life such as lost time, neglected duties, or shortened attention spans. But watching a show or a movie in moderation can be good for things like stress relief and social bonding. There is a tension there- Everything in moderation as the saying go (which in and of itself is misleading!
With all of the discussion around the state of things in our world, specifically in the USA, one of the most common refrains I am seeing is a continuation of the “Cancel Culture” tagline (except in reverse now) and the “Boycott this now” groups. There is a definite tension here. A balance of Freedom of Speech which is a basic right in the USA, with an understanding that just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should, is lost on the current generation. The rise of social media means everyone has a voice- but the issue is, is that voice worth listening to?
So with all of this tension and all of the things we see, hear, experience, consider and work through, how do we engage the world around us? I would like to suggest the practice of Positive Loss. Subtract things from your line to gain experience. In Luke 9:2-4, Jesus is sending His disciples out to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God. He implores them to travel light. This has some tactical advantages- the disciples are not inhibited by extra weight so they can travel farther. They have less items to worry about. They will not appear as a target for theft. These are very practical things. Yet thinking through it, there is a more subtle suggestion at play. Their appearance doesn’t matter as much. People will take them at face value instead of some false perception of wealth (a cloak and it’s workmanship would signify status if it was well made). The simplicity of their provisions makes the disciples more reliant on those around them and specifically on those receptive to what they are saying.
So what does this have to do with modern times? Well, the phrase “less is more,” comes to mind. Less TV, more reading. Less procrastinating, more action. Less time wasting, more learning. Think about what life would be like with little to no interaction on social media and 1 hour of walking outside in nature would do for your mind every day. Think about what spending 30 minutes reading Scripture and journaling about it instead of watching that next episode or mindlessly scrolling would do for you? See the mind is conditioned to chase the path of least resistance. We naturally don’t want to put in the effort or work to deal with less or put down the screen and pick up the page. The technology is literally programed to get a response from you, either a like or a comment. What that technology doesn’t care about is whether the comment or reaction is positive or negative. Strike it from your life. Recycle that time into something positive. Think: “Do I need to ‘like’ this post? Do I need to share my view on this topic? What does it really accomplish?” I’ll tell you what it accomplishes- More ad spend and revenue for the technology company that hosts the content. It does nothing for you directly. Absolutely nothing, except drain you, make you anxious, or stress you out.
Back to considering Luke9:2-4. Travel light, take only what you need, less is more, proclaim the Word. Who’s approval are you seeking? Is that app to just “stay in touch” or “know what’s going on” really worth it? Because in the end, the only thing that matters is Eternity, not social pressures.
