Don’t lose sleep. Pray.
Recently, our Worthwhile Conversation Group discussed a Renovare podcast with guest, John Eldredge. We zeroed in on Eldredge’s explanation of benevolent detachment which is the human need to give things over to God because the human brain is not made for an infinite amount of information. He points out that many have fed into the idea that to be a good citizen one must be aware of everything from global political events and worldwide disasters, to knowing where our clothes are manufactured and our coffee grown. I could totally relate as I wasted time a few years ago trying to find school uniforms for my children that were sewn in the USA. I was stressing over the thought that their little kakis and collard shirts were being sewn in a sweatshop by children their own age. A completely legitimate fear, but this was before the age of find-anything-on-the internet so in the end, I had to let go.
Of course, Eldredge is not suggesting these things are not important or that we should be unaware of political and world events. Rather, he wants us to remember that we are not infinite. Only God is. We must differentiate those things we have been given power to change and those we have not. Some cares must be cast onto Christ (1 Pet. 5:7). He alone has the strength to carry every problem in the world and the power to change them. When we human beings ruminate on them, we experience despair, anxiety and sleepless nights.
So, a few years ago, I read an article about plastic recycling. Often what we think is being recycled is not. This really bothered me. I came up with the idea of starting refill stations for things like liquid soap and laundry detergent. I actually asked a couple engineers if they thought such stations might be possible. In the end, I realized no company like Unilever or Proctor and Gamble would take a risk by refilling bottles that might not be sterile and contaminate their product. I ended up investing in a soda stream machine (I haven’t purchased soda water in two years) and started purchasing detergent strips. Yes, I realize this is a drop in the bucket when it comes to the world-wide recycling dilemma. Yet, this is what I can do. To worry about what the other millions of soda water drinkers and detergent users are doing is beyond my control… but it is not beyond God’s.
Prayer can move mountains (Mark 11:23). Jesus told His disciples they should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1). James reminded his readers that the prayers of the righteous avail much (James 5:16). If I really care about the environment, or children working in sweatshops, I would ask God if there is something I can do, do it, and then pray asking Him to work out whatever is beyond my efforts.
What are some things God has shown you that you can do to make even a small difference? And what things have you found you simply had to turn over to God in prayer?
