Heart and Mind

Since you’re reading this Argus, I imagine you’re one of those people who still tries to stay up with the news. I don’t mean that as a bad thing at all, but it seems more and more that the news is difficult to watch. It just seems like there is little good news in our world today. So, unfortunately, often I avoid keeping up on the news and rely on Facebook and word of mouth to get most of my news (which is always trustworthy, right?)
And as much as I’m curious and love to learn and know things, when all we hear is depressing news about the state of our world, it’s hard to keep tuning in. But there’s a problem with that mentality, isn’t there? I mean, especially as someone who follows a God who loves the whole world I shouldn’t turn a blind eye to it, even when it’s so negative and depressing. In fact, Henri Nouwen writes, “The world and the reality of daily events are there to be read with the mind and heart of God.”
And that’s a hard reality for me to face because when I read or listen to the news, often I just feel so powerless. I mean, when I read about sex-trafficking even in our own country and riots and murder and oppression, not to mention the pandemic and fall out from that, the hopelessness and powerlessness is enough to simply have me shut down and turn it all off.
But then when I read Nouwen’s words, I don’t think a follower of Jesus can do that. I don’t think shutting the world out, shutting out the noise and the pain, is the right answer. No, the right answer is to find a way to deal with what is happening, not throughout the world necessarily but in my own heart.
And I personally might not be able to do much about sex trafficking in our world. Sure I could send money or volunteer at an organization that is doing that work but I don’t have unlimited resources or time to help with all of the problems in the world. And that’s okay, there are people who are helping and I can find the place that I want to provide my money and time to help.
But the one key thing that we as followers of Jesus need to do when we’re watching the news through the heart and mind of God is pray. And not just pray for the end of these problems, but to pray for God’s presence and kingdom to come more and more into those problems. 1 Chronicles 22:19, “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” And when we do that, our hearts and minds tend to look at the world’s problems differently and our prayers become more genuine. God bless.