Current events are certainly stressful right now: the ongoing war in Ukraine; the profound threat to abortion and other women’s health care; and last week the shooting in Buffalo. When I engage with these topics on the internet (videos on YouTube and posts on Facebook), it reinforces my perspective with the opinions of like-minded people, and it brings up feelings of anger and fear. Fear can be useful in showing where there is real danger (which there is) and anger can be useful in motivating me to act to protect myself and others. But of course, there are not many opportunities for action while watching videos on YouTube or reading posts on Facebook.
Occasionally, however, there is wisdom worth sharing that I find on the internet. This week it was in the form of a question: “Where are the proposals for outlawing the teaching of replacement theory in our schools?” This question simultaneously references the ridiculous movement to ban so-called critical race theory in our schools, and the white replacement theory espoused by right-wing politicians and talk show hosts that motivated an 18 year-old to travel to Buffalo and kill Black people in a grocery store. May this action and the hateful theories that inspired it be denounced by every politician, every media figure, every religious leader, and every member of our society. White replacement theory is a mainstream right wing talking point, and it is a form of white fragility based on resentment of non-white people.
The statement I just made is a form of action—me using my voice and my platform to respond to the disturbing current events. When engaging with current events leads to fear and anger without positive action, it is harmful to my well-being. For my own mental health, therefore, I need to monitor how much I engage with internet content on current events. I need to balance that with real-world interaction with people, and with self-care for my body and my spirit. May I have the wisdom to find this balance. May all of us.
PRAYER:
Great Spirit who inhabits the soul of every human being, I pray for your presence to be healing and loving. Spirit within each one of us, remind us that we are peaceful and loving people. Remind us that human connection and human community are possible.
Great Spirit, bring peace and tranquility to the hearts of those stirred up by hateful divisive ideas on social media. Bring calmness and perspective to those over-engaged with social media, that we may all be awake to and aware of the real world of nature and of human interaction. May our online interactions connect and inspire us, showing our common humanity. May our real-world interactions bring us into the aliveness of this precious moment.
Blessed be.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
May 19, 2022
Occasionally, however, there is wisdom worth sharing that I find on the internet. This week it was in the form of a question: “Where are the proposals for outlawing the teaching of replacement theory in our schools?” This question simultaneously references the ridiculous movement to ban so-called critical race theory in our schools, and the white replacement theory espoused by right-wing politicians and talk show hosts that motivated an 18 year-old to travel to Buffalo and kill Black people in a grocery store. May this action and the hateful theories that inspired it be denounced by every politician, every media figure, every religious leader, and every member of our society. White replacement theory is a mainstream right wing talking point, and it is a form of white fragility based on resentment of non-white people.
The statement I just made is a form of action—me using my voice and my platform to respond to the disturbing current events. When engaging with current events leads to fear and anger without positive action, it is harmful to my well-being. For my own mental health, therefore, I need to monitor how much I engage with internet content on current events. I need to balance that with real-world interaction with people, and with self-care for my body and my spirit. May I have the wisdom to find this balance. May all of us.
PRAYER:
Great Spirit who inhabits the soul of every human being, I pray for your presence to be healing and loving. Spirit within each one of us, remind us that we are peaceful and loving people. Remind us that human connection and human community are possible.
Great Spirit, bring peace and tranquility to the hearts of those stirred up by hateful divisive ideas on social media. Bring calmness and perspective to those over-engaged with social media, that we may all be awake to and aware of the real world of nature and of human interaction. May our online interactions connect and inspire us, showing our common humanity. May our real-world interactions bring us into the aliveness of this precious moment.
Blessed be.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
May 19, 2022
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