Distraction and Escape III

Author’s note: This is part three of the contemplation titled ‘Distraction and Escape’, which was published on January 14th, 2025. If you have not read part one, click this link. If you have not read part two, click this link.

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, and the glory of kings is to search it out” – Proverbs 25:2

Ask any injured athlete what it is like to be confined to the sideline and watch his team fight for victory.

Ask any soldier what it is like when his buddies go into battle while he must stay behind.

They hate it.

They want to be in the midst of the action.

They want to be in the arena.

Here’s the thing about our modern world:

It makes us spectators of life.

We, who are meant to be adventurers – created to discover ourselves, explore the world, and seek God - are reduced to being onlookers confined to the bleachers.

We yell our opinions and cast our judgments as we watch from a safe distance the few who possess the courage to take action.

But our words carry no weight. The roaring mob drowns out our voices.

And we pacify our consciences, telling ourselves we tried our best.

And we enjoy blending in so we can yell what we want without being held accountable.

But here is the problem:

If we try to escape responsibility, we stand for nothing.

This line above is the third of four statements in our series Distractions and Escape.

We have previously discussed questions and purpose.

Today, we dive into responsibility:

When I first started this blog, I considered not sharing my name, keeping it anonymous.

I was worried...

What if people don’t like my writing?

What if my friends read my opinions, hear of my faith, and dislike me for it?

What if I am wrong about something, people point it out, and I am embarrassed?

The fact of the matter is, however, that the thoughts I share on this blog truly are mine. And the topics you read here are truly ones with which I wrestle. I know I must continue to grow and learn, but if I believe something, I may as well sign my name to it, standing by it regardless of the consequences. Should I find that I have been wrong in my understanding of a matter, I can own up to my mistake, for it was an honest pursuit.

I must take responsibility for my words and actions, embracing their consequences.

...I must do that or accept that I stand for nothing, remaining a faceless voice in the crowd.

Taking responsibility means taking action and embracing consequences.

Responsibility requires me to stand by what I believe to be true.

It means acknowledging when I am wrong and changing my ways as necessary.

Most of all, taking responsibility means refusing to remain in the bleachers, watching others live their lives.

The four vices that we discussed in part one of this contemplation series are ‘our cell phones with all their social media apps, TV shows with their endless seasons, movies with budgets large enough to end world hunger, and video games that are cruelly designed to leave those who play them longing for more’.

These vices are the masters of making us spectators. They are the masters of making us an unruly mob, criticizing and judging others while never embodying the virtues we claim to espouse.

We must remind ourselves that we are adventurers meant to discover and learn.

And we must step into the arena and start living.*

*I believe it is worth clarifying that ‘Stepping into the arena’ is not meant to advocate becoming more outspoken in the online world. Instead, it is intended to encourage people to step away from those areas, engaging with one’s actual life and the immediate people around them.

'Why hello there' - snowy weather in Virginia