Pray Before You Post

I walked into the gym and set my bag down. I was in a separate room off the main floor. The room is like a small warehouse. I like it because it’s usually quiet and I can zone out. There were a few guys in the room when I got there. The music playing was pretty crude, so I put my earbuds in and jumped on the row machine.

I continued to hear the music over my earbuds and was unimpressed. It was disrespectful and distasteful; especially of women. I know these men didn’t mean to offend me with their music choice. I just happened to walk in on their workout. I decided to ignore the music and continue on. If anything, it gave me that extra oomph I needed this morning. I grabbed heavier weights and decided to make the most of it.

I could have told these guys what I thought about their music. I could have ranted and raved about how distasteful it was and how gross they were for listening to such trash. I could have given them dirty looks or got in their way as a way to show them I matter, exist, and hear the lyrics. I could have gotten in my car after my workout and ranted on Facebook about these gentlemen and the music. But, I chose not to. Not because I didn’t want a fight or because I wanted to avoid them. The music isn’t what matters. People are. And if people matter, than how I treat and react to them matters, too.

I decided to smile, say hello, and encourage these guys as we all worked out together. I decided to show them I could work out in their space without being emotionally charged from a reaction to bad song lyrics. Sometimes, we must drop our pompous attitudes of everyone needing to cater to us and our needs in order to reach others.

We are a jump society. The moment we hear one thing whether from a friend, the news media, or online, we jump. We may not have all the facts. We may not know all the details. It doesn’t matter. Our opinion is already formed. We arm ourselves and head out into battle.

We live in a “serve me” culture. If it doesn’t serve me, then it’s wrong and others must change to adjust to my needs and my opinions. No longer can we disagree and still be friends. Gone seem the days of trust in discussion. The new normal is egocentric and self-serving.

We are the most connected we have ever been in history yet, we are the most lonely. We are seeking unity with others and often find ourselves unifying for the wrong purpose. We come together out of fear instead of love. That’s a scary place to be.

“Pray before you post.”

Oftentimes, we grab a sound-bite and follow up with a post on social media. We hear something that has not been confirmed, and we instantly have an opinion which, in our little worlds, becomes a fact. What does that opinionated post do? What purpose does it serve? Have you helped your community with your rant?

Turn off the news. It’s not there to inform you. It’s purpose is to scare you. The more fear-filled you become, the more you will watch their broadcasts hoping to find a sense of peace in one of their stories. Stop reading the articles that flow so rampantly through Facebook. Get away from the negative Tweets. They are usually false narratives anyway. Remove yourself. I promise, if something major happens, you will not be left in the dark.

We need to start unifying for the right reasons. Not because we agree with that post and comment feed, but because we all have value and we all matter.

I was at a meeting the other day for a prayer group that prays for our school. We were talking about different faiths and how each express their beliefs differently. We all concluded that there is a need for different. We are all so very unique. We all have different needs and different styles. Because of our unique natures, we gravitate towards different ways of receiving the Gospel. It doesn’t matter if your Methodist, Protestant, or non-denominational. As long as Scripture is preached purely, it doesn’t matter what denomination you associate with. If we don’t unite in the Church as a whole, we are going to lose this war that is raging in our nation and our world.

God isn’t going to ask us our denomination, our gender, or our skin color when we get to Heaven. He’s going to ask us what we did with His Son.

What are you doing with Jesus? Are you allowing Him to use you to bring unity and love to those you come into contact with? Whether that be with an old high school buddy online or the barista at Starbucks. How you take your place in this life matters especially for such a time as this? What is in your feed?

We have an opportunity to make history. We all know it. We all feel it. We all see it. What is our generation of people going to choose? Are we going to continue to walk around angry at one another because we are different or are we going to lay down our pompous pride and truly live like enough is enough.

Instead of posting on social media today about the latest news story, the chaotic state of our world, or the racial tensions in our communities, why don’t you start unifying your home? Can you purposefully treat the sales clerk with kindness smiling and thanking her instead of being frustrated she’s taking too long? Would you encourage your kiddo to find someone in their day to be kind to just because?

Posting our rants on social media isn’t going to solve a thing. We know this, yet we continue the pattern. The only way our world is going to change and heal is if we change and heal. That can’t happen if we stay stuck.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

So easy, yet so hard. Love one another. It really is that simple.

Love & Blessings,
Meg