I'm sure I'm not the only person who has felt bombarded with information during the last few years. The problem was not necessarily that the information was bad, but there was just so.much. Of course, we can't forget the inundation of 'helpful' information presented, and posted by misinformed people who were often driven by fear during the last season. This post is not about that.
What I'm talking about is the vast menu of good information. For example, the many social media pages of Christian ministers, musicians and general quote pages. They are all good...but how many of us actually have time to pay full attention to so many posts, articles, videos, etc from so many sources?
My frustration has been other people trying to "force feed" me good "food" from a menu I have already chosen from. It's like, I have chosen a main meal, and they want me to eat the dessert or entree they have chosen for me. Or even a different main meal. I'm satisfied with my choice, and I don't need anything else.
There have been many pastors and ministers I've followed on social media, but over the years have unfollowed, as they no longer belonged on my journey. There is nothing wrong with them, I just stopped paying attention, which suggested I no longer needed their voice in my life. Last week, I realised I routinely ignore and scroll past a certain pastor's posts. So...I unfollowed them. Their "food" no longer sustains me. That's ok. The menu is vast, and I know many others are sustained through their "food". They are serving their purpose, and that's good.
We are all on our own journeys. There are seasons where where we will enjoy certain items from the menu, then seasons where we choose a different option. That's how we grow. Even babies need to move on from milk to solids. It's natural progression.
Sometimes it feels as though social media is a tool to force us to eat from the entire menu, when it is not only physically impossible, but mentally impossible. If it doesn't bring you growth or joy, why do you keep ordering from that section of the menu? If the dessert just sits there uneaten, maybe you should remove it? You won't enjoy it, and gluttony isn't good either, physically or spiritually.
Something I've also noticed...when you unfollow a page that no longer serves you, it opens up menu items you hadn't previously noticed! Add to that, unfollow a "Negative Nancy" and suddenly the news feed is flooded with positivity! Sometimes you discover menu items you hadn't previously considered, and they provide what you need. But...you needed to make room!
I deliberately don't tell people to watch, listen to, or read anything unless I know they are interested. I became fed up with people sending me these things, publicly and privately. Often with no explanation of why they think I should pay attention. I refuse to open a video unless the sender takes time to explain why they think I should. Even then, sometimes I decline. That's because I know what I want from the menu. Additionally, if I do send something to a friend myself, always with an explanation, I don't get offended if they decline. It goes both ways.
So, my questions are, What are you "eating" from the menu of information? What continues to sustain you, and what should you remove? Is there a menu item you haven't discovered because you continue to "eat" from a selection that no longer brings you joy?
Stay in your lane and enjoy your journey! 🦋
John 6:35. "I am the bread of life..."
