Would Jesus Have Subscribed To Netflix?

Last night Merideth and I spent about ten minutes scrolling through all of our possible TV watching choices on Netflix.  We couldn't seem to find anything that we both wanted to watch, so we just kept searching.  

There are thousands of choices on Netflix between television shows and movies.  It's overwhelming at times to try to pick something.  Finally, we just gave up, shut the TV off and went to sleep in short order, which we should have done in the first place. 

I did a quick search today to find out if other people had the same issue with the vast amount of choices on Netflix.  I discovered there are actually entire websites and web applications that exist just to help people navigate Netflix and find something to watch. 

Not only do we have an overwhelming number of choices at our fingertips, we also have an overwhelming number of ways to help us make those choices.  It's all kind of... overwhelming.  We're living in strange times, my friends.  

When was the last time you simply sat still and rested without checking your phone, or playing on your iPad?  When was the last time you enjoyed a quiet talk with a friend over coffee that wasn't interrupted by a thousand texts, emails or some kind of busy-ness that crept its way into your conversation?  

When was the last time you simply found a quiet spot to pray, to journal, to be still and know that God is God and you are not?  If you are like me, those moments are few and precious.  

This morning, I read this verse and it spoke to me intently:  

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35

Jesus was often overwhelmed by the sheer need of the people to whom he was ministering. He was often interrupted by people wanting to argue with him, people needing to be healed, even his own disciples with questions about which of them would be greatest in the kingdom of God. He had a lot of choices to make. 

But what we see here in this verse is that Jesus made time to push back against the busyness, the endless choices and the interruptions.  He dedicated a particular time of the day, and found a solitary place on the hillsides surrounding the Sea of Galilee where he could simply be still with God.  

I'm thinking that if making that space in his life was necessary for Jesus, I kind of figure it's pretty necessary for us, too.  

May you resist the overwhelming number of choices today that lead you to disquiet, disunity, and a lack of peace.  May you create space in your life today for solitude with the Creator, and in so doing find solidarity with the Son, who did the same.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.