Navigating a Split-Screen Reality
In a recent chat conversation with a friend, we talked about how surreal life has been lately. My friend said she calls it a split-screen existence, and that was how she had described it to her family. While I didn’t recall her specific term of reference, I totally got it, and with her permission, stole the term to share with you my split screen life: one side of my screen view is completely normal everyday life, and the other side is a constantly changing montage of images vying for my attention – none of which accurately portray the current reality.
Reality 1
Last night I fell asleep, pleasantly exhausted after attending a wedding with a friend in an Arab town outside of Haifa. I think we were the only Jewish people there. I had been more nervous about getting lost than being outside of my element. It was, actually, an interesting evening as we sat with some family of the groom, whose mother my friend and I both knew. He immediately identified us as belonging to the Messianic congregation next to his cousin’s home and regaled us with stories of their history and legends surrounding the history of Christianity in the region. Some of his stories gave me a chuckle, and others made me wonder… are they true? I plan to follow up with some other friends because there is so much that I don’t know.
Puzzlement, a few chuckles, and yes, a bit of sadness about the lack of understanding who Yeshua really was, were my last thoughts as I fell asleep.
Reality 2
In the morning, when I checked for missed messages, I had a notification about the funeral and visitation date regarding the death of a former colleague, along with the question, “have you heard the news?” Then I checked the messages from the women’s prayer group in my congregation mentioning a barrage of missiles and siren after siren where one sister lives. I’d barely digested that bit of news when I talked with someone from work who said, “Of course, you can guess why I’m not at work,” followed by a phone call from another former colleague of 30 years back, who simply wanted to make sure I was alright.
By the time I’d absorbed that Hezbollah had planned an attack on the north, warnings had been issued, the airport had closed, and Israel was responding, I read reports that the airport was reopening, the attack was over, the Home Front Command was letting us know we could go back to the semi-normal normal we’d all been living, and all was well – not.
Now the government is facing more demonstrations for a number of reasons, in part because Israel responded strongly to a potential threat to Tel Aviv but has done relatively little to stop the daily incursions and bombings that are preventing hundreds of families from living at home for several months.
Which picture do I respond to? Which emotion do I cue into? Is it anger? Frustration? Confusion? Bewilderment? Unrecognized fear? Concern for my friends in the line of fire? What about the condition of the hostages? Are they still alive? Guilt that my life is far more normal than that of most people in the country?
Which picture do I respond to in this split-screen life? Each one is begging for a response, and in the end, it’s just easier to shut down.
The different pictures of shutting down
My screen changes views, and I go through the normal steps of life: get up, do some cleaning, feed the cats, and get to work. At work, I focus so much on different tasks I hardly notice the hours going by, and suddenly, it’s lunchtime. Feeling dazed, I walk to the cafeteria (if I’m in the office), or pull out something quick from the frig if I’m at home, and then get back to whatever the screen is requiring of me.
The tiredness sinks in when it’s time to go home, and not even realizing I don’t want to think, I fall into automatic mode, reading a book, watching a YouTube video, or playing yet another game of endless variations of solitaire. Only when I take a moment to look closely at the screen do I realize that each variation of solitaire is like another variation of the news I hear every day. Quitting one screen to look at another – not the same but just as numbing…
Moving to full-screen view
Full-screen view brings another perspective to my reality. It helps me see things for what they are and brings order to my jumbled morass of feeling. For me, full-screen view occurs when I open up my Bible and simply begin to read. Lately, I’ve not been able to stick to a consistent plan. So I use my trusty Daily Light to help me find a getting started verse, and then just keep on reading. Sometimes one verse reminds me of another, and then I’m longing for more time to read… how could I have forgotten, these verses are not just old friends, they are faithful friends, reminding me of who really is in charge. But more than just words, they draw my eyes back to THE Word, the one who was in the beginning before all things were made, the Word who became flesh and dwelt for a while amongst us. And suddenly an infusion of strength grips my spirit, enough strength for this day, this task, this post.
Be Thou My Vision…
As these thoughts run through my mind, I’m reminded that, in a way, split-screen view is a challenge for all of us. The work is vying for our attention at every level. Let’s face it, do we really want to have to cope with the realities of the economy, politics, wars and rumors of war, personal relationships, health issues, and concerns for those we love? Is it any wonder the entertainment industry is making billions?
At times like this, an ancient hymn with origins dating back to the 8th century, Be Thou My Vision, draws me nearer to my Savior. I realize that I need to get my eyes back on Him. The truth is, every day something is going to try to get my attention off of Him, and every day I need to fight to get my eyes back on Him. But I think I am not alone in this battle.
In fact, I’m so sure that I’m not alone, that I hope you’ll take the time to encourage others by sharing your split-screen reality in the comments on my site.
So, how are things in Israel?
All of the above is my rambling as I thought about how to explain to you how things are in Israel. It’s kind of odd. When I was in China in 1995, I heard a saying that looked at what we heard about China and reflected on its size: “Everything you hear about China is true – somewhere.”
Years later some friends were visiting Israel and said that when they looked at Israel, they saw it as a microcosm of the world – everything going on in the world was happening in Israel – somewhere.
How are things in Israel? I dare say, depending on your news outlet – everything you hear about Israel is true – somewhere.
Please continue to pray for the country and all the people groups living here. Please pray for the leaders of the nations (not just Israel) to receive heavenly guidance whether they recognize it or not. From the beginning, I have seen no solution to our situation apart from God’s intervention. And pray for a spirit of humility that hungers and thirsts for righteousness to fall on all the people, that they might be filled.
I hope you enjoy this version of Be Thou My Vision as much as I do. A little reminder that we sing this old hymn together with many who have gone on before us, all of us longing for that day when we see Him with unveiled eyes!
About the featured image: I tried to simulate my split-screen world by combining a photo of my cat (Cleopatra Fluff Fluff) with a screen capture of images from the Israeli news… Hope it worked.
