For Wilshire Baptist Church
Sunday morning while at church my phone vibrated and like the Pavlov’s dog I’ve become, I had to look. It might be something important, don’t you know. The alert on my screen from Apple News was both dire and dumb: “Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is melting fast and major cities are in danger. Plus, a big change is coming to HBO’s Max, and more.”
There, in one compact message, is an example of the pendulum swing of information we’re fed on a constant basis: The Earth is drowning, and entertainment is evolving. Oh my, what are we to do! The article about the glacier was only available behind a paywall, so I didn’t go there. As for the “big change” coming to HBO Max, I didn’t look into that because I’m not a subscriber so it’s not my problem. I may not be able to stop a glacier from melting, but I can limit the waste of my time and money on more entertainment. I’m not shaming anyone who enjoys that, I’m just saying for me there’s too many other things to do that interest me.
But the Apple News post promised “and more,” and that’s not a lie, because you can scroll and scroll forever through Apple News and never see it all. And then there’s the nonstop offerings of help and relief that come in the daily email.
My cloud storage is full, and my software protection is being cancelled. Tinnitus is eating my brain by the minute, my constipation is out of control, and my toes are numb. My Venmo account is compromised, and my auto insurance needs an upgrade.
Gold is surging and I’m missing the bonanza. I’m also missing the savings of solar energy, with which I could buy all kinds of great stuff: a pro pressure nozzle, car dash camera and the best drone ever.
Apparently, I need help with my wildfire claim and exiting my timeshare, and if I don’t pay my overdue toll tag balance soon, I’m going to jail.
I’m missing out on the six-minute trick to reverse diabetes, the seven-minute hack to stop tinnitus, and the sure-fire service to turn my weedy lawn into a golfer’s paradise.
No need to worry about the expense of all this if I’ll just accept the “generous and gracious” gift from General Dr. Abra Cadabra who just needs my bank account details for the deposit. If that sounds like a scam, I can sell my house to Liz, because Liz Buys Homes. There’ll be enough extra cash on hand to dine on Omaha Steaks, enjoy the luxury of a walk-in bathtub and cover that unexpected PayPal order of $499.99.
It’s relentless and it never ends. We can’t stop it from coming unless we unplug completely. That’s something I’d like to do, but the smart phone in my pocket is my connection to parents and others who might need me, even on Sunday. I could get a simple flip phone, but they’re not immune to bogus texts. For the record, I don’t answer calls I don’t recognize. That’s what voice mail is for.
The only real solution I see is the one that’s always been there: Take it all in stride, don’t panic, don’t be gullible, don’t talk to strangers, and don’t respond to unsolicited advice. And to borrow from Timothy People’s Sunday benediction at Wilshire: exhale.
Still, I know for every crazy offer, scam or fearful message that comes through the ether, there are people dealing with a very real version of whatever that offer is. There are people in dire financial, medical, technical, emotional and relational situations that need a real solution. The best advice I can offer is to be proactive and reach out to people you know or good referrals from people you know.
Meanwhile, just as there is always an “and more” to the email and text alerts, there’s an “and more” to the benediction. There’s actually several, and one of my favorites is in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”