The media attempts to make things my business that are not my business. In our connected world of travel, social networks, and nationwide or international political movements, it can be good to be informed. However, since my foremost news source these days is Facebook (which means I get the news filtered through the strong emotions of others), I have been reminded not to sacrifice my blessings and opportunities by being upset all day about how unfairly Paula Deen has been treated or decisions our government makes that cause me duress. It has not been given to me to change anything about those situations, so I have to learn to block them off, not in a numb way to avoid difficult things, just in a mature way that recognizes it is not my business -- and I am actually getting better at this.
What does remain my business (and this hasn't changed from last year to this year or last week to this week; I'm just more aware of it because of my useless worries and this very active world) is blessing the relationships in my life today. I always spend time with my child and husband, usually some cashiers, maybe some strangers at the library and park, and --on really fun days like today -- good friends-like-family. I am expected to be loving -- kind, patient, gentle... treat others the way I want to be treated.
What may become my business is meeting someone who is different than I am. Perhaps I will meet someone who has been abused by a significant other. Someone with an addiction. Someone with a much different worldview about marriage than I have. If I meet someone like this, I will try to be better at getting to know him/her and what forms that individual's history, ideas, and passions. I can also share about my life's history, which strongly includes passion for the One who has saved me from really destructive thoughts and behaviors of my own and from others. But I don't have to be pushy. After all, if I get stressed about anything outside my control -- like someone else's choices -- then I am the one wasting energy that is needed elsewhere (and pregnancy has made me very aware of that precious energy supply and the precious people I am with every day).
The media fills me up with suspense and anger and assumptions that are not true. And all of those emotions prevent me from even attempting relationships with people who are different than I am because I think I already know them -- BUT I DON'T! And all of those emotions distract me from what I am holding in my hands now.
You know, of course, I do believe the words in the Bible, and I try to read them, little by little, every day so I can better understand God's love and how to express it to this world. I believe people are lost in sinful behaviors, but if they don't realize they're hurting yet, then they are not my business yet either. I will be kind and patient and treat every.single.person the way I want to be treated... but I won't keep slapping those individuals with my Bible if they aren't ready for it. There are others who are hungry and thirsty for it who I may be missing for the drama of an argument (which I actually hate, but seems to attract us all like flies to honey).
I don't know if it is a female thing or a cultural thing, but, from what I observe, it seems we all think we are supposed to save every single person in the world, even the person thousands of miles away the news showcased, especially the family members or friends who have made it obvious they want to be miserable AND not be our business... and, in the meantime, we are too distracted to impact the people right here in front of us who want The Word of Life.
I have to hurry away to the business in my day, so I hope this makes sense.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 12 -- "... and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and you will not be dependent on others."
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