Everyone Needs to Chill Out

It is no surprise that we live in very uncertain times. I tried to refrain from writing a blog but I just cannot help myself. Why would I want to address topics of today? Perhaps part of it is that I am a pastor and try to keep my finger on the pulse of culture. The other reason is that I have a brain which leads to questions. Common sense tells me that some things are just not adding up and so I did some SIMPLE research to arrive at my findings.

What I want to say first however is that people need to chill out. My goodness are we a frazzled mess. If we aren’t worrying about COVID19 then we are worrying about looters, if we are not worrying about looters then we are worried about Antifa. If we are not worried about Antifa then we are concerned about stocks, if we are not worried about stocks then we are worried about murder hornets. On and on this vicious cycle goes. These are trying times but let me talk to the Christians…for that matter let me talk to the others as well that have “Namaste” and other peaceful sayings on their bumper stickers yet act out in less than flattering ways. Why do you keep your self so incredibly stressed out? You come home from work and you are stressing about something else. If everything appears fine then you almost make it your hobby to find something to stress out about. You/we/me will end up like the pressure cooker world we live in and at some point explode. We are seeing it on a national level. On the home front it will result in kids being constantly yelled at, spouses arguing and more. Why? Because you cannot seem to wrangle yourself in and settle down. It's nobody's fault but your own that you cannot seem to settle down and breathe. Enjoy the day!

What about the civil unrest in our country? Hardly no one is disputing the fact that George Floyd’s death was uncalled for. The officers involved ought to be prosecuted. Those saying “we are protesting white supremacy” ought to to do a little digging. Honestly everyone from Rush Limbuagh to Rev. Al Sharpton were against this heinous act. Regarding the fight against white supremacists…a simple search revealed that only about 25,000 people in the USA consider themselves hardcore ideological activists according to people.missouristate.edu. One more simple search or rather question to Siri reveals that number only makes up 0.007617% of the United States population. Once again however, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Should anyone think the looting and rioting has something to do with George Floyd, you are sorely mistaken. It is my opinion that there is something much bigger going on. It's like COVID19, I don't doubt there is a legitimate disease but once again there is something much bigger going on. All of this ugliness has taken away from what we’re united about. We are united about the conduct where George’s life was taken by the heinous acts of 4 policemen.  Protest all you want…we have that right. Many who have gone on before us both in the United States and abroad have shown how this can be done with some shred of human decency. 

So how do I stick the landing on this one? Christians…why act so surprised? I assume you have read your Bible. I assume you have read how the story began in Genesis and what we are to expect. I assume you have read or heard it taught in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Even Job 5:7 reminds us that “Man is born to trouble as sparks fly upward.” If we think things are going go somehow get better…well…some fires may be put out here and there but there is always the question, what next?

Here’s the deal; pray for the Floyd family. Pray for all people groups involved. Do your part to make a difference in a Christ honoring way. Don’t be like the ostrich that hides its head in the sand. Be well aware of what is going on but for goodness sake remember the words in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. I posted a meme yesterday of a lion that says “Aslan is on the move”. It is a reference to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. First comment posted was someone saying “Unfortunately he's going the wrong way”. This is how negative people have become. This is how biblically illiterate people are thinking God is somehow not in this. You and me can make things better and be a light right where we are but we have to CHILL OUT first. How about instead of coming home from work worrying about this or that…you come home from work and just be. Enjoy the rest of the day and be still and know that He is God.