Teaching on suffering. Again. That we do things which hurt because they are good for us. Writing with a sore leg (running) back (deadlifts) and shoulder (floor warmup).
or the standard crossfit niggles. I know that in fitness I need to be disciplined and push myself. The other reading for the day is Hebrews, which talks about strengthening your knees and getting up when your heart is pounding. For your growth, so you walk straight, for your witness.
So in our sanctification we need to be the same. But that is not something we boast of. For we still stray off the path.
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
We work out these things in real life, and not on social media or blogs. For an introvert, blogging is safer: I can and have given talks to a few hundred people but that is far more stressful. Real life is more important. It is no good being the secret King of Gondor when Gondor is a role playing game. It is better to live with others, and be human. And yes, I’m quoting a blogger who is much more read here.
No matter how many followers you have, how far your meme spreads, how many upvotes your comment gets, or how many pats on the back you get from the internet mob, you will remain deeply unsatisfied that these huge numbers—this powerful influence—is not human connection but merely a simulation of connection. Ultimately, you’re interacting with pixels and avatars, mere representations of real community, but never real itself. I’ll give you a million followers tomorrow, and within one month you will feel as disconnected as ever, because your true need is not a simulation of community but real community. A group of real friends in your town, who care about your safety and interests as deeply as you care about theirs, is worth more than millions of simulated friends, fans, or admirers on the internet.
Maintaining real communities and friends in person is hard. You can’t just “log off” when you want. You can’t shitpost or troll without repercussions. You have to sacrifice and accommodate to their needs. You have to be respectful to their feelings and particular insecurities, because you’d expect the same from them. One genuine friendship is harder to maintain than satisfying one thousand followers online where expectations and standards are lower, and where little is asked of you but to provide entertainment and sporadic insight.
We suffer in real life. We care and love in real life. And we all need to pray for mercy. In real life.