Strange Sheep

Yesterday, I was out chasing the sunrise, and I came across a pasture where sheep were grazing. That, in itself isn’t so strange. But I found their behavior odd.

See, I have been specifically photographing sheep, trying to build a reference library. So I have been watching how they behave, trying to get specific angles so that I can draw them. Sheep are social animals, and bunch themselves into little knots all the time. They are shy of strangers, and many times when I pull up across from their pasture, they flee to the far side and stand in a huddle with their backs to me. That is not the best pose for my purposes!

Once in a while, if I wait long enough, they will forget I am sitting there and begin to loosen up. But still, they tend to move in groups. Baby lambs will keep in a group with other lambs, or will seek out their mother. Adults will move around in groups of 3 or 4, unconsciously shifting their position to stay in the same general area as others in their group.

So while driving, I found this strange group of independent sheep. They showed zero curiosity when I stopped the car, and only one lifted it’s head for a moment. The really weird thing was that they all stayed an equal distance from each other, ignoring me and each other, while completely filling the pasture.

The one who lifted her head promptly dropped her face back into the deep grass and continued chewing. What was so interesting in there, I thought, that would cause them to discount the danger of a stranger nearby? Must have been some delicious grass!

I was reminded of a family I saw once in a restaurant. All six sat at the table, but instead of making eye contact and sharing stories, they were looking down at the black box with a blue screen in their hands, scrolling, scrolling. In the dark restaurant, each of their faces were lit from beneath with that blue light, and they sat motionless, waiting for the server to take their order.

Family time.

Were they checking social media? What was so interesting in that black box that they would ignore the people around them? They took no notice of who was sitting nearby, or of what was happening in the kitchen where their food was being prepared.

I think the current addiction to social media has complicated causes. One of the reasons is chemical– dopamine is generated by our brains when we get an answer to a question, or solve a puzzle or figure something out. It feels good to have those small accomplishments, even if it’s just figuring out who sang that song that’s been going through your brain! So being on your phone makes it easy to feel good. It’s distracting. And when you are feeling isolated, or sad, or frustrated, it’s right there to “help.”

But many times it doesn’t help. And if the underlying problem is loneliness, it’s easy to see how the issue becomes circular: You feel lonely, you go to your phone, you feel better, so you spend more time on your phone and less time solving interpersonal problems or seeking someone’s company. . .

But really, why pick on social media? Lots of things can become addicting: Work, drugs or alcohol, video gaming, food. Anything that gives you a rush of pleasure or makes you feel accomplished can be addicting. (And depressing.)

But from what or who are we running? What are we missing?

FOMO, fear of missing out. Only, instead of being afraid of missing what’s happening with the rest of the world–or of what is presented as what’s happening with the rest of the world on social media–we should be afraid of missing out on our own life.

After all, who is going to live your own life if you don’t do it?

Looking back, who hasn’t wished for more time to spend with those we love? After someone is gone, and things have irrevocably changed, we often look back with longing to a time we never fully appreciated when were were there.

What are we missing? What are we not able to imagine because there is no extra room to stretch our minds in this increasingly digitized landscape?

I remember a time when parents used to encourage their children to get bored so that the children would become inventive. (They may call that “neglect” now, but down time is super important when you are a child.) Some of my favorite memories are from those long summers when I was with my friends and siblings, sitting around and trying to think of something to DO! Oh, the games we would dream up!

And now today, as an adult, it seems there is far too much to do. It’s impossible to keep up with the news because the whole world generates it, and all of it is “breaking news!!!” The sad thing is that it really is breaking news; things are happening that have never happened before. Some of it is amazing, some of it is heartbreaking, and some of it is shocking or sad, but it is all attention-worthy. Sometimes, when I want to get away from it all, the news cycle breaks in, and I feel like someone grabs me by the shoulders and screams “What? You HAVEN’T HEARD???”

But for just a few minutes, does it really need MY attention? Today of all days is historic, and terrifying for our country, really. But the truth is that most of us can’t do much about what’s happening, except pray. (And really, that is everything.) But when our minds are hemmed in with demands for concerned attention, how can we even find the space to do that?

It is all right to just take a breather and go outside for a walk. If you know Jesus Christ, then you can rest in his love. No one can touch you without God’s permission, no matter what. The strongest thing you can do is pray, because your prayers are poured out before the throne of God. He says they are like sweet-smelling incense, and he longs to hear from us.

His power is the source of all other power; he is good, and his mercy endures forever.

Reconnect with nature and look up into the sky at the beautiful clouds. They change moment by moment, reflecting the moods of the earth. This beautiful planet is where we live, and it was created just for us to enjoy. God’s fingerprints are all over it, and we become more healthy and fit by being connected to it.

When is the last time you walked barefoot in the grass? Have you plunged your hands into the earth to plant something? Did you notice all the baby animals that are everywhere right now? Have you noticed the sunset, or better yet, the energetic sunrise? Have you been missing any of those things?

Hope is not in the black box, mired in the things of man. That’s a dead end, and is soon over. But life and light and love is all around us, and those things last forever. Our soul goes on after death–it’s “science”!

Our life force is energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed by man, only changed. But this opportunity to share love and hope with each other is for a limited time only. Look up and out, and give yourself time to think, to dream, to be connected to others in real time, or to be inspired!

Today, I was looking through my camera. I came across a photo of a special moment that someone else took. My eyes enjoyed roaming around the photo until I noticed I was in it.

Over in the corner, huddled away from everyone else, there I was, hunched over a little black box, and my face was lit from beneath with blue light. Everyone was celebrating, and I was by myself. What was so interesting, I wondered, staring at the photo of myself, that I couldn’t be present in that moment?

I need freedom, but I am becoming aware of my dependence upon media of all kinds. I used to look forward to thinking my own thoughts, and generating ideas that I believed were original. My insatiable curiosity used to be pointed at others or at the world and its incredible mysteries. The exploration of light, or energy or the earth would have more than enough to keep me going every second for the rest of my life.

But instead of participating in life, instead of making or fixing something, instead of imagining something new, I look into that black box and allow my thoughts to be directed by a stranger. Hmmm. They say we notice and are critical of those traits that we, ourselves, tend to have.

So yep, I have work to do. There’s a lot of stuff going on behind our backs, over our heads and under our feet. Yes, things are changing. It can be scary. Maybe it’s because our routines have been disrupted, and our old habits must be replaced with new ones.

When that happens, the way it does for every generation, we have some important choices to make. In what ways should we try to re-create the old ways, and when do we forge ahead with something new? We have to decide what to keep and what to throw away.

But first we have to be able to think. So become informed enough to have an idea about what’s going on, then back away from the television, the computer or the phone. Give yourself a little time. Walk outside and feel a cool breeze on your cheek. Take a deep breath and become present. Breathe out a prayer to God and let him know you are paying attention.

Yes, Lord. I am paying attention. My head is up and I’m curious.

Who knows what I might find? I’m up for it. How about you?