Yesterday, I challenged us to turn the news into, as a friend of mine would say, “fuel for prayer.” Doing this is difficult when the news itself is “entertainment.” You don’t think so? Monday morning, I woke up to the news of a devasting earthquake in Turkey, or Turkiye, about 250 miles from where I served in 1970 – 1971, tracking satellites. As of Wednesday morning, we know that over 7,500 people were killed, and thousands of others were injured. When I clicked on the link, here’s what came up:

START THE DAY HERE in a red box at the top of the page with three stories:

• Deadly earthquake hits Turkey and Syria [Yes, that’s what I was checking on.]
• Beyoncé makes Grammy history [Really?]
• How to see February’s full snow moon [I need an article to tell me how to see the moon? Don’t I just look out the window or walk outside and look up? By the way, the moon was nice. We were driving to our son’s for dinner when it was first coming up.]

But I digress. I’m writing about the moon, when I really want to write about the silliness of juxtaposing a story of a tragic earthquake with trivialities. And that’s really what’s happening here, isn’t it? One digression (or distraction) after another.

What’s the opposite of “digression”? I thought of “focus,” or “staying on course.” I looked up digression in a thesaurus to see what the antonyms were. There were 22 synonyms but only three antonyms: “go direct,” “stay,” and “be direct.” But that makes sense. If you’re on a hiking trail, there are many ways to go off the trail but only one way to stay on it. If you’re working on a project, there are many possible digressions, but only a few ways to make progress at any given point.

I looked up entertainment: “the action of providing or being provided with amusement…” “Amusement” definitions list “distraction” as a synonym, so we come full circle. And isn’t the root of “amusement” a-muse or not thinking?

I guess the takeaway is that we will have to be focused and intentional if we want to use our time well. There are endless opportunities for digressing into entertainment and amusement even if we’re trying to keep up with important news.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD…For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil. (Proverbs 1.28 – 33, NKJV)

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6.16, NIV)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. (Ephesians 5.15, NIV)