It’s not rocket science.
This advice often comes from a coach, a dad, or perhaps a pastor when they’re trying to tell you not to overthink something. It’s true, in an age driven by data, we have a tendency to overthink so many things. In fact, to illustrate this point I did a Google search of spaghetti recipes. In 0.69 seconds, the search generated nearly 1.5 billion results. Baked spaghetti, Filipino spaghetti, The Best Homemade spaghetti! The list goes on and on, millions of results leaving me with the dilemma of which recipe to choose. With so many choices it's easy to get bogged down to the point of paralysis. Spaghetti is a very silly illustration, but it helps to prove the point that we are a world overwhelmed with information.
Which leads me to the conversation being had around the coronavirus and the church. It’s ongoing, and at 11:24 am Monday morning, I typed how to be a christian during coronavirus into a Google search. In 0.49 seconds it generated over 1.3 billion results. Everyone, from The New York Times to Christianity Today, has weighed in with what feels like tons of information.
In fact, in this short season, I have already found myself a bit overwhelmed by the subject. In an age of information, this pastor can sometimes feel a pressure to have well crafted answers for the people of God. Which sources can be trusted? How can we practically help our church and our community? What should we do and not do? Add to that the strain that social distancing has placed on our church as it restricts our ability to gather, and you can understand how this might threaten the peace of someone who shepherds God’s people. Perhaps I shouldn’t be making spaghetti at all.
In these times, I’m reminded that it’s not rocket science. To my weary mind, Jesus speaks simply, saying, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Simple words like these, from Christ, is what settles the soul in the age of information.
To a troubled world, Jesus has always spoken simple words of rescue. To fearful hearts, Jesus has always spoken simple words of hope. What simple words does Christ have for us, His church, in this season? Remember, it’s not rocket science, open scripture to hear what He has to say, and pray the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sends in the Son’s name, provides peace sourced from another world.
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Augustine, Confessions