Chasing Chaos

 Ever so often I find myself drawn to the news.  Some little (or big) tidbit about events just captivates me for days!  It might be a nation wide story or one involving my little community or even our congregation. Whatever it it, it captures my attention, stirs up some emotion in me and whets my appetite for more. 

Recently, like many Americans, I was focused on the floods.  So much devastation! Such great loss! My heart hurt so badly for the ones who were still waiting ....hoping ....praying. I felt like weeping for those overwhelmed with grief, seeking comfort in memories! I mourned over futures never fulfilled, photos never taken, adventures never experienced and loves never loved!  It was emotionally devastating!  But, as empathy  navigated me through the crisis, some new emotions began to surface.   I became angry!   Angry  I think it's because as in every story, the devil inserts himself and his agenda.   comments saying the victims deserved to die. Their parents deserved to suffer. The losses were really lessons.  All untrue and all horrible!  I watched, no I deliberately looked for responses to all of this and my emotions darkened!  Every day I watched the news for updates. Every chance I got I checked social media for latest in the search! I was mesmerized by all the comments. And I became sad and angry and bitter! This was not an isolated moment.  It had happened before....being emotionally caught up in some sort of drama....feeding on every little tantalizing morsel of news ...

After some soul-searching and some time on my knees with the Lord, I turned it all off!  Don't get me wrong, I still prayed for them, but I realized had spent too much time in the event and not enough time thinking about the souls!  I started thinking how often this plays out.   The chaos is not in the souls but rather in the event itself. Tragic and chaotic --it didn't make sense! Yet many news stories and headlines seem to impact us in some very unhealthy ways!  Right?  

It's great if the news inspires you to act to alleviate suffering and glorify God.  But if they cause anger and bitterness, if they make you critical and bathe your every thought with sarcasm, and fault-finding negativity, then you have chased the chaos until you've run peace out!  I've done this and it had an incredibly unhealthy ways impact on my life! 

I know God ..our God is not the author of chaos.  After all didn't He send the one and only Prince of Peace?  Didn't that very Christ promise to leave peace with us?  And don't scriptures admonish us to do everything in our power to live in PEACE?   

The older I get the more I desire peace in my life.  For me that means less politics, turning off the news, avoiding gossip and spending more time with Him and His Word. It means prayerfully asking God to adjust my appetite so I no longer need to know what everyone says about everything and who disagrees.  It means to become mature enough that "trends" no longer appeal to me. My life is neither a soap opera or a talk show.  No need to have an opinion about everything.  Peace is not elusive!   It is ready and available to us once we stop chasing chaos! II Thessalonians 3:16 " Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all "

Blessings 

Neva

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