The Reverend John Branson's Weekly Encouragement
Readers of this newsletter recognize that Dublin and surrounding communities, as well every city, town and village in the United States live in extraordinary times. The COVID crises has snuffed out the lives of more than 150,000 Americans, torn up their families and communities, and impacted/interrupted the lives, hopes and dreams of millions of others. This is not a phenomenon limited to the United States by any means, but is a world-wide crisis of unfathomable significance.
Though many organizations and institutions (schools, universities, museums, arts organizations, churches as well as businesses large and small) have adapted, adjusted and instituted new plans and procedures for the immediate and long-range future, much remains unknown. How will this pandemic play out? What can I do to keep my family safe? What is the long-term impact on our lives, jobs, economies, and aspirations?
In this confusion and bewilderment of not knowing what comes next, some are beginning to stir, awakening to a new “sense of things” hidden by our worries and fears. Some of you may have heard of a new phrase: doomscrolling—what many of us do with our cellphones, especially late in the evening or first thing in the morning. We tend to turn to our phones, scrolling though bits and pieces of the news, enraptured especially by the “worst, the awful and the terrible”. Like adrenaline, our brains thrive on the high drama, walking-the-edge, and thrill of defeat. Once we start our doomscrolling, we are drawn into the vortex—down, down, and further down.
Where’s the good news? Is there any Good News? There is, of course, all around us and inside of us. We just don’t see it, trust it, believe it.
If you, too, tend towards doomscrolling, being nabobs of negativity, we have something for you! Bible Study, zoom-wise, no less! Join us Thursdays, 9am on Zoom (click here to connect) for the weekly Bible Study hosted, sponsored, urged-upon-you by the Kingdom-Seekers of Emmanuel. There’s always room!
