Article June 9, 2008 Issue

GOD-CENTERED STILLNESS

BY SARA HOAGLAND HUNTER

IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF INSTANT COMMUNICATION, constant motion, and increasing demands, stillness and calm might seem quaint anachronisms. A recent, much discussed article in The New York Times spotlighted "blogger burnout." The article referred to the current "digital-era sweatshop" in which an army of independent workers toil under "great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy" (Matt Richtel, The New York Times, April 6, 2008). Although the article was immediately repudiated by many bloggers who happily supply a steady stream of information to loyal readers, others agreed with the article's sentiment. They expressed fear for their own health in their drive to generate more and more content for an increasingly insatiable audience.

How can we avoid the frustration that comes from information overload crowding out time for quiet contemplation? How can we find time for God? I think the first step is learning that we don't have to mentally consent to the thought that our cultural environment defines how we think or who we are.

As St. Paul—quite possibly one of the busiest men who ever lived—realized, "We live, and move, and have our being" in a loving, infinite, peaceful God (Acts 17:28). When I'm feeling over worked and out of touch with the quiet calm that prayer provides, Paul's demanding schedule lends perspective. His agenda rivaled that of today's most over-scheduled student, committed parent, or pressured employee. Paul was impelled to spread the gospel to anyone and everyone who would pay attention. The fulfillment of this mission included nonstop travel, speeches, writing, and more disparate social networking than some of us are involved in on websites like Facebook.com.