Recently I have taken a break of sorts from social media and the news. Don't get me wrong, there are important things happening in our society.
COVID-19,
the death of George Floyd and ongoing protests,
the coming presidential election.
All of that is important. It's true. But, the way I was consuming all the information and stories. . . I don't think it was healthy. And, far too often, it was disproportionate to the reality of what was actually happening in my life and the life of people around me.
What do I mean by that? Well, when COVID-19 broke out I was worried. We have a son who is on chemotherapy. His immune system is being purposefully suppressed. So a new, potentially lethal virus, that was projected to sweep our nation and overwhelm our medical services was very scary. So, like many others, I woke up and checked the news. I followed the updates from my county medical office, and even kept my own charts of new cases and deaths. I got depressed, dealt with anxiety, and had trouble sleeping.
And, you know what? It was all kind of silly. None of the obsessing changed our situation. It didn't protect my son. Even if the pandemic had turned out to be as terrible as projected my sleeplessness, and chest pain-inducing panic attacks were not going to do anything.
Then George Floyd, a black man, was murdered on video by a smug-looking white police officer, in broad daylight, as onlookers called out "you are killing him," and other officers did nothing. The anger that poured out onto American streets was justified. The protests were righteous. Black men and women across the United States cried out "THIS CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN" and maybe for the first time, the majority of white Americans understood and felt the anger. The cause was just. The anger was righteous. The moment was unifying. George Floyd should not have died. No black man should have to fear the police. For a moment, it looked like, as a nation, we might pull together and say "Hell (and I mean that as a pronoun), no."
Yeah, that lasted for about a minute.
Righteous anger was exploited. Some say by white supremacists, some say by Antifa members. Riots broke out, looting began, and the political hucksters on the right and left began to inject the narrative of national politics. I, like many, stood in horror at what unfolded. The cycle of waking up, checking the news and social media, posting my reactions, and reacting to others, began again. The world was burning. The country "was in a national crisis."
But when I went to the park to walk with my wife, I saw my neighbors, black, white, hispanic, all doing the same thing I was doing. What I saw when I went to Sam's Club to buy groceries, it didn't look like what I saw on the news. Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to minimize the moment. But in the same respect, what I saw in my community was different than what I saw on the news.
Please don't misunderstand this. I am angry about the death of George Floyd. We NEED to have a national conversation. There are changes that NEED to take place. We NEED READ RECONCILIATION between communities in our country. Racism MUST be stamped out. Personally, I accept that I have unintentional biases that affect my perceptions and actions, and I am open to change. That is all true.
But it is also true that social media, ratings-driven news media, and political parties all benefit from me feeling outraged, angry, or concerned.
So, I have dialed back my consumption. "You are what you eat", they say. For the sake of this article, let's say, "you are what you consume."
That brings me to John 6: The Bread of Life Discourse. I know it was a long way to get here, but hang with me.
In John 6, Jesus tells his disciples, "Unless you eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life within you." He gives us his literal flesh and blood. When I received Jesus in the Eucharist, these words are fulfilled. I don't want to downplay that. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. But, is that the only place you are consuming Christ?
In all of the events that have transpired. In dealing with the death of George Floyd, and in processing that, have I run to Jesus? Have I sought to consume him as much as I have thought to consume media? Due to COVID-19, the Eucharist has been denied me, but Jesus is also present in the Word? Have I run to him?
Whats my point? The world is broken. We need Jesus. If we are going to make it through this crisis and come out better on the other side, we need to up our consumption. Not of social media. Not of ratings-driven news media. Not of power-hungry political parties. We need to up our consumption of Jesus Christ.
I don't merely say that as a platitude. I don't say it to minimize this moment. I say it because when I read the Word of God, I am formed in and informed by the voice of God. I can't help but see that the Lord "opposes the proud." I learn that "with humility comes wisdom" I see that as a believer, I am called to "love my neighbor as myself." By consuming Christ, I know how I am to walk and bring the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ with me. By confronting the Word of God, I am prepared to confront this moment.
Only because of who He is, I can be who I am called to be in this moment. I will not get that from social media, the news or the political parties. None of them will bring peace to me or through me. But Jesus, he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the prince of peace. He shows me how to suffer for the sins of others. He shows me how to carry the burdens of others. He shows me what it means to be a reconciler. You see, "He humbled himself even unto death on a cross."
I want to consume him more. Yes, in the Eucharist, and yes in the Word.
You are what you consume.