Do you ever want to just check out from all the madness going on???

If I was asked this question, I would have to answer with a resounding "Absolutely"!!! It seems like the madness is increasing which I suspected would be the case as we head towards November elections. That doesn't bother me too much because, as I said, it's expected and it's sadly become "the norm". There's a lot of other stuff that I see as well though. The continued reports of bird flu, USDA and FDA hypocrisy, and the farming / homesteading tsunami. There's also been a ton of reports from political and religious figures falling from their esteemed positions due to some kind of compromise.

I've often wanted to just "check out" from all of it. It's too much to keep up with, it's too much to understand, the blatant lying and hypocrisy that runs rampant, often at the tax payers dollars in some facet, it's all just too much! In some sense, I'd like to have the ability of the butterfly and just fly away, but......

Am I justified in this attitude? In my own mind, heck yeah I am! But as I listened to something the other day I realized that I need to stay in the fight. To be content within the adversity and hold my ground. I don't want to try to get into a debate on whether this applies to Christians or not. For the record, I think there is an unsurpassed amount of wisdom found in the Bible and everyone can benefit from it's study.

To my point, Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 4-14 gave me great insight and encouragement during this time when all but a small portion of me wants to "check out". Per Britannica.com

Jeremiah (born probably after 650 bce, Anathoth, Judah—died c. 570 bce, Egypt) was a Hebrew prophet, reformer, and author of a biblical book that bears his name. He was closely involved in the political and religious events of a crucial era in the history of the ancient Near East; his spiritual leadership helped his fellow countrymen survive disasters that included the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 bce and the exile of many Judaeans to Babylonia. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremiah-Hebrew-prophet

Knowing his background of being involved in political and religious events and being captive himself of a corrupted society gives further validation to these instructions.

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: (So to us that feel like we're in exile from sanity)

5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 

6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Do all that God enables you to do, for yourself and for others. Why? Because it prospers you and it will prosper others)

8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. (Don't fall victim to the foolishness of your captives, despite their prestigious positions. These are prestigious positions within the area and time where you are captive. Hello Big government!)

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Hang in there, even for those that are young. Ask anyone over 30-35 years old and they'll be happy to testify that time absolutely flies! We stay focused and don';t fall into the pitfalls here. Do what we can where we can and there will be a day when you may win someone over to sanity, then maybe another day someone else, then another and another and so on.)

So I feel like I am not at liberty to check out, despite really really really wanting to at times. I feel like I am charged as Jeremiah was. To not just hold my ground, but to prosper however I can, whenever I am and hope that it encourages others to do the same. My hope is that this may be encouraging to your participation in a time when things seem bleak or confusing or frustrating.

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