Faithful Conversations #78
Introduction to Readers:
Arthur C. Brooks
Spiritual Malaise refers to a deep sense of disconnection with one’s inner self, beliefs, or purpose, accompanied by feelings of emptiness or lack of meaning in life. This concept has been on my mind this week, prompted by Arthur Brooks’ recent article in The Atlantic titled, The Best Therapy for Our Anxiety Epidemic (sidebar: some of you participated in a book study at ELC on Brooks’ book Love Your Enemies). As one who has spent my adult life working with young people, the article is jarring. Let me start with two framing excerpts:
- To note that a mental-health crisis is hitting American adolescents and young adults is hardly news—data to that effect emerge almost every day. The latest confirmation, in April, comes from a survey that I was grateful to help develop: This major survey, sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation and fielded by Gallup, revealed that some 38 percent of respondents aged 12 to 26 had received a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression. That finding broke down by gender as 29 percent of young men and 45 percent of young women.
- Among adolescents and young adults who spent more than 20 hours a week on social media, 65 percent said they felt anxiety “a lot of the day yesterday” (as opposed to 49 percent of those who spent 20 hours or less so engaged); 49 percent of the heavy social-media users felt sadness for a lot of the day before (versus 26 percent of non-heavy users); and 80 percent of them felt a lot of stress (against 59 percent of those other users).
Brooks then drills down on what he considers the central problem driving the anxiety epidemic. While social media is partially to blame, he argues that in a larger sense, young people (and perhaps older people too!) are not being prompted to explore deeper questions about their life’s purpose or meaning. He identifies two questions that he believes are fundamental for all of us to contemplate: Why am I alive? And for what would I give my life? A sustained effort to find answers to those will reveal your life’s coherence, purpose, and significance. Let that sink in.
This circles me back to Spiritual Malaise. Is the sense of hopelessness apparent among so many in our culture, and notably by young people, related to a crisis of faith? Allow that question to stir your heart and mind as you observe the world around you this week.
Once again, thank you for visiting this space each week, and realize that I come at this process with humility. The more I learn, the more I am confronted by how much I do not know. We remain in Ordinary Time, the longest phase of the Christian calendar (Good Shepherd Lutheran in Pearl River, New York offers a great explanation of the church calendar here, if you need a refresher). After pointing out common themes in this week’s readings, we will take one more walk into Psalm 34, including connections with the other readings. I have also included a terrific poem that seems especially fitting this week.
The Readings for Pentecost 14
Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34: 15-22
Ephesians 6: 10-20
John 6: 56-69
Common Themes in the Pentecost 14 Readings
Look for these common themes as you work through the Pentecost 14 readings: faithfulness, commitment, and divine protection. In Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, the Israelites are called to choose whom they will serve, emphasizing the importance of loyalty to God. Psalm 34:15-22 highlights God’s attentiveness and deliverance for the righteous, reinforcing the theme of divine protection. Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:56-69 both focus on spiritual strength and perseverance in the face of challenges, with Ephesians encouraging believers to put on the armor of God and John emphasizing the sustaining power of Christ’s presence through faith.
Focus Reading: Psalm 34: 15-22 (New Revised Standard Version)
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Reflections:
King David’s Tomb,
Mount Zion, Jerusalem
We have been working with Psalm 34 for three weeks. A quick recap: It is one of seventy-three Psalms attributed directly to King David (Psalm 23 is his most famous). He lived roughly ten centuries before the birth of Christ, and 34 appears to be rooted in a particular episode in David’s journey. The short statement of identification (“Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.”) references a harrowing story found in 1 Samuel 21 when David fled from Saul and took refuge with the Philistines. He was afraid of King Achish of Gath, pretended to be insane, and ultimately escaped (such a strange story!). In the Psalm, David expresses gratitude to God for deliverance from fear and enemies. He also emphasizes seeking the Lord for protection and sustenance, promising that those who trust in God will not lack any good thing. Finally, he also encourages righteousness, assuring that God is close to the brokenhearted and will ultimately save those who take refuge in Him.
Our focus this week is on verses 15-22. Verse 18, in particular, jumped out at me in light of the Brooks article mentioned in my introduction. Those experiencing anxiety and depression — a sense of spiritual malaise — are certainly “brokenhearted” and “crushed in spirit,” and it saddens me that so many of our young people are living in that space. In verse 17, however, we are assured that God hears us when we “cry for help,” and that he stays near to us — continues to love us — even if we drift apart from him, unable to articulate the cause of our separation. And we are all susceptible to drifting apart. Like those Israelites in dialogue with Joshua in this week’s first reading, we are confronted with numerous “gods” that vie for our attention in our techno-driven society. We may even aggressively walk away from the faith, as some of Jesus’ followers did in this week’s Gospel reading (note John 6:66). The radical nature of his teaching was simply too much for them. Yes, sometimes it’s just easier to walk away. Faith, in my experience, is not a linear journey, but rather is filled with peaks and valleys. It is a daily walk requiring certain disciplines, especially engagement in the Word and prayer, calling us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power” (Ephesians 6:10). That message needs to be shared and shared widely to a broken world! Keep your ears and eyes open in the days ahead — someone you know needs to hear this message!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Prayer/ Reflection: “silent god” (edwina Gately)
This is my prayer—
That, though I may not see,
I be aware
Of the Silent God
Who stands by me.
That, though I may not feel,
I be aware
Of the Mighty Love
Which doggedly follows me.
That, though I may not respond,
I be aware
That God—my Silent, Mighty God,
Waits each day.
Quietly, hopefully, persistently.
Waits each day and through each night
For me.
For me—alone.
(Source: Dan Clendenin: dan@journeywithjesus.net, 18 August 2024)
The Past is a Foreign Country 