Multiplicity

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul (Ps. 94:19 NAS)

The new normal of our lives these days has been one of multiplicity, refracted with the complexities of transitioning from the familiar routines of life as we know it and now letting go of all that to take hold of a new, different, unknown way and culture.

The Hebrew word for a multitude of thoughts is Sarappim which, according to one scholar, can be used to describe the numerous branches of a tree. Rather than the whole of the tree the picture is more about all the individual parts. In the English construction we might describe someone as going to pieces as opposed to being whole or complete.

 In the New Testament, the apostle Paul, in the book of Philippians, wrote, "Be careful (full of care or worry) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Here the Greek word merimna is used for careful, which has the meaning of going in too many directions at once. Jesus chided Martha when he said, "Martha, Martha you are worried and bothered by so many things, but only one thing is necessary ..."
How many times like Martha do we loose sight of the one thing; the most important thing.

Our culture is being dramatically impacted by the amount of information we are being inundated with every day. Infobesity is a new term coined to describe a rampant condition in our society and psychological studies have found it to be a source of increased depression. When we have too much information and too many choices our thoughts become fragmented and the concern or worry for making the wrong choice increases exponentially. Learning how to deal with this condition is like sorting through too much spam.  We need to establish boundaries for our minds as well as our computers.