23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
Reflection
It has occurred to me to give up Social Media for Lent.
It’s certainly a distraction and a time-suck. It’s easy to wander down various rabbit holes that can be funny, scary, heartwarming, or heart-wrenching. The worst ones are the rage-inducing ones that pull some of the worst things out of people who would never say such things to your face.
Why do I keep it? The few shreds of dignity that remain in social media for me are maintaining friendships across the country and it’s largely my one connection to remaining politically active or maybe I should say politically supportive.
In the 2016 and 2020 elections I spent so much time arguing with people. It was EXHAUSTING and harmful to my mental health. Eventually, I “accepted defeat” and blocked them because I just couldn’t bash my head against the wall anymore. It’s only a handful of people, but it’s the thing I needed to do to protect myself. These days I’m a bit quicker to the block, but I also haven’t had to block many more people. Maybe they blocked me first! I chuckle at the thought.
I think it helps that I’ve intentionally interacted with what I do want to see. Give me all the rescued animals, or funny cats and dogs! Give me all of the parenting advice on raising feral princesses! Give me the news about my distant friends! Give me the people who now have a target on their backs because I want them to know I value their voices and love them for who they are. I will “Like,” “Love,” “LOL,” and “Share” those things.
It’s not lost on me there’s a gap in my content. I know something is missing. I’m protecting myself. The things on social media that incite hateful language, ignorant gossip or misinformation …why dig into it? I’ve been given permission or guidance from today’s scripture to protect myself from those things and so I will.
by Ashley Bowler
For Pondering and Prayer
Why do you use social media? Have you taken any steps to protect your heart? Is it time to protect your heart by intentionally stepping back from certain people or certain apps?
If you’re going to continue using social media, is there someone in your list of friends who would help your heart to hear from? Is it time to purposefully engage with that someone? A simple, “Just thinking of you” and liking a few of their pictures may be enough for the algorithm to show you more.
Prayer: Dear Lord, this world is messy. Social media so quickly becomes a muddy slope that has us slipping and falling into a puddle it seems impossible to get out of. Help us listen to you, listen with our hearts, and protect our hearts. Let our words and actions on social media and in life be guided by your unconditional love and grace. Amen.
