Disorientation, Garbage, and a Hangover

Disorienting is a word I have used often in the past three hundred days.

The pandemic has been disorienting.

Social distancing is disorienting.

Virtual school is disorienting.

Losing loved ones is disorienting.

Job changes are disorienting.

I now use the word again to describe the events of January 6, 2021. Disorienting.

There’s this movie I’ve seen called Olympus Has Fallen. Maybe you’ve seen it.

It came out in 2013 and stars Gerard Butler as a Secret Service Agent, Aaron Eckhart as the President of the United States, and the great Morgan Freeman as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The plot is basically a group of terrorist mercenaries who overtake the White House.

When I watched this movie with my wife, I remember saying how incredibly unrealistic it was.

After yesterday, I’m not so sure of this anymore.

Disorienting.

I made the mistake of going on Twitter last night. Talk about a flaming dumpster fire.

Sometimes social media brings out the worst in us.

I know the Bible says my heart is deceitful, a point I would not argue as I know it to be true in my own heart. Yet when I see the ugliness, the hatred, the pride, the idolatry, it’s disorienting.

I have zero interest in making a political point other than to say i am tired of the world forcing us to focus so much on political leaders.

I thought the news was garbage in the 1990’s (I am an old man), but here we are thirty years later and it’s all so…disorienting.

How do we even know what is true anymore?

Twice in the past several days I’ve seen the most trusted news sources say someone specific was dead and then later it turned out they were not dead.

I don’t think it was a case of resurrection happening, though I know that’s happened before. #HeIsRisen

Okay, I thought that was clever. Maybe you did too.

There’s just so much garbage being poured out every day.

I love technology and social media. It just doesn’t get to decide what I think.

I am more determined than ever to fight the battle for my mind.

I will fight through the disorientation and garbage and hold on to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I do not want my first or last thoughts of any day to be about government.

I do not want to walk through my days fearful of legislation.

I refuse to allow the division, the disorientation, the garbage to marinate in my mind.

This is why I fight. This is why I turn to Jesus. I need truth.

I heard a random song years ago that stuck with me, and I listen to it from time to time.

Tonight it was just what I needed.

Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine

Cause I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
'Cause I like to keep my issues strong
It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

If I had a mic, I would drop it right now. I don’t want to live with a graceless and judgmental heart.

I don’t know how the world impacts you. I’m deeply sorry for the hurt you experience. I want to be a giver of grace, which is why each day I restart with Jesus.

Lord fill my heart with grace for others.

I truly believe it is darkest before the dawn. This too shall pass. There are better days ahead.

The better days might not have anything to do with government.

In fact I can almost promise you they will not.

But there is a God who is real. A God who loves. A God who gives hope.

So shake it out.

Like a rug, shaking it out, getting the garbage off it.

Don’t let the things in this world get my eyes off of what God is doing.

You can’t dance with the devil on your back. Shake him off. Jesus is greater.

You know what’s funny though? This song was actually written about a hangover.

I think that’s hilarious.

God uses songs about hangovers. God uses anything and everything.

I don’t actually know what a hangover feels like, but I imagine it’s similar to how these days sometimes make us feel. Disorienting.

I’m going to keep fighting the battle for my mind.

Because I don’t want to feel disoriented anymore.