trifling
"Life as we know it in our painfully intricate civilization can be deadly unless we learn to distinguish the things that matter from those that do not. It is never the major things that destroy us, but invariably the multitude of trifling things which are mistakenly thought to be of major importance. These are so many that, unless we get out from under them, they will crush us body and soul..." - A.W. Tozer
It's true.
Sometimes a person is able to compose something in just the right way that it makes sense.
Tozer here makes sense.
And it is the "intricate civilization" of today that must be considered. With all its clamoring and clawing and grasping for every minutiae of our moments...plus more that we haven't to give, but wish we could, because there is so much to do (if only we could)...
The Age in which we live makes a multitude of things simpler, easier, and faster, and thus we are overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Yet we scramble to keep up, to stay in touch, to draw in all that information, to collect and gather and consume. And we don't want to miss anything. Why?
And our circle of acquaintances expands and expands, made possible through digital media, while our true relationships remain static in their small number (small because that is all we truly need)....or, dare I postulate, their numbers dwindle. We gain a sense of closeness and community and connectedness that is merely psychological, not actual, because we "know" what is going on in the lives of our many acquaintances....but we don't really know them. And we can't. We can't know them all.
I read stories and see films of times when life was simpler. When people walked, and talked, and sat, and thought, and did nothing. And I wish for those times to return. But in those times, life was often harder and often more dangerous. With advancements in technology and medicine and media there always arise new problems--new difficulties.
Perhaps now the difficulties and problems are less obvious, and we are too busy to notice their existence. Perhaps the problem with which to contend is Distraction.
Distraction caused by the multitude of information, of possibilities, of ideas, and things all at our fingertips.
Distraction from the things that actually matter.
Perhaps the weight upon many a shoulder is caused by those "trifling things" which we have mistakenly believed to be of necessity.
Somehow, we'll have to sift through all that is available and narrow down the virtually endless possibilities to find those things that are wholesome, meaningful, helpful, and focused. Somehow, we'll have to exercise restraint, to cut back, and to endeavor to be purposeful. At least, I know that's what I have to do. How?
It's true.
Sometimes a person is able to compose something in just the right way that it makes sense.
Tozer here makes sense.
And it is the "intricate civilization" of today that must be considered. With all its clamoring and clawing and grasping for every minutiae of our moments...plus more that we haven't to give, but wish we could, because there is so much to do (if only we could)...
The Age in which we live makes a multitude of things simpler, easier, and faster, and thus we are overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Yet we scramble to keep up, to stay in touch, to draw in all that information, to collect and gather and consume. And we don't want to miss anything. Why?
And our circle of acquaintances expands and expands, made possible through digital media, while our true relationships remain static in their small number (small because that is all we truly need)....or, dare I postulate, their numbers dwindle. We gain a sense of closeness and community and connectedness that is merely psychological, not actual, because we "know" what is going on in the lives of our many acquaintances....but we don't really know them. And we can't. We can't know them all.
I read stories and see films of times when life was simpler. When people walked, and talked, and sat, and thought, and did nothing. And I wish for those times to return. But in those times, life was often harder and often more dangerous. With advancements in technology and medicine and media there always arise new problems--new difficulties.
Perhaps now the difficulties and problems are less obvious, and we are too busy to notice their existence. Perhaps the problem with which to contend is Distraction.
Distraction caused by the multitude of information, of possibilities, of ideas, and things all at our fingertips.
Distraction from the things that actually matter.
Perhaps the weight upon many a shoulder is caused by those "trifling things" which we have mistakenly believed to be of necessity.
Somehow, we'll have to sift through all that is available and narrow down the virtually endless possibilities to find those things that are wholesome, meaningful, helpful, and focused. Somehow, we'll have to exercise restraint, to cut back, and to endeavor to be purposeful. At least, I know that's what I have to do. How?
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