Today I have a confession. I’m having a real problem with social media. I’m on it too much. I get stuck in one story after another, and all it does is lead me down a rabbit hole. I get angry and frustrated and to what end? Who cares if I am angry? No one who made me angry, that’s for sure. A lot of it is politics, media twisting truth and at the bottom of it all is sin. I’m angry over sin, but what can I do? Watch more things to make me more angry? That seems a bit counterproductive to me. Will my anger spur me to action—and if so what should that action be? I think it’s time to really minimize my contact with social media. I won’t lay it down completely. It’s how I make most of my ministry contacts, but I am going to cut way back, with God’s help. 

Now I can almost envision people saying, “How will you stay informed? Are you going to be like an ostrich with your head in the sand?” My research this year taught me among many other things that ostriches don’t do that and neither will I. No, instead I am going to limit my contact with things over which I have no control—things that leave me asking “What can I do?” With no real answers in sight. Instead I need to redouble my efforts in the things that are in my control. I will devote more time to praying for the people who are currently leaving me throwing up my hands. I will devote more time to being the best husband, father, grandfather, pastor and, in general, man I can be, I will spend my time preparing for the opportunities God has given me to share His truth, and make the most of those opportunities. I will speak to young people, in person and in groups, trying to stem the lies too many in my generation, and those generations that have come since, are telling them. I will devote more time to ministering to the people God has laid on my heart, especially those with developmental disabilities, and I will devote more time to telling better stories, writing more books and making art that tells His story. 

This is not one of those notes where I announce I’m leaving. Social media already has far too many of those and I am not completely leaving. This is saying, I’m tired of wondering “What can I do?” I already know that, now I am limiting the distractions so I can start to get it done. Pray for me.