Welcome to MPC Connected! With our church family separated, we will be communicating with you throughout the week in a more intentional way, including emails from Max and Jeff, opportunities to serve others, and more. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
Anybody getting tired? Me too. That's why I eagerly clicked on an article entitled Body of Work by Curt Thompson, MD. In this article, Dr. Thompson explains why the interactions we are experiencing now (Zoom meetings, livestreams and the like) are having unintended effects on our bodies. Thompson's thesis is that our brains are having to work extra hard because we are programmed and meant to be around other embodied people:
Normally, our bodies are able to “say” things when we are in person that we don’t have to “think” about otherwise. I can say, “I’m really comfortable with you.” or “Wow, I can tell that was really hard.” without using words. This enables my “thinking” brain to concentrate on other things. But when I’m on a Zoom call, my “thinking” brain has to make up for what my body is not available to say. Hence, the conscious, cognitive domain of my mind is having to do much, much more work than it is used to doing. And to some degree, like an underdeveloped muscle, it has to work up to speed. But that metaphor only goes so far.
One of several things that COVID-19 has revealed is that our thinking minds are not able to make up for what our bodies—and our bodies alone—were created for. Our bodies, in fact, are looking for the presence of other bodies, as it were—and they’re not there. But that doesn’t mean that the anticipation mechanism that expects someone to be there in an embodied fashion stops working. Rather, like a cell phone that keeps “looking” for cell service that isn’t there will drain the battery that much quicker, so we are much more tired when our bodies can’t find each other in real time and space.
Reading Thompson's article is a great reminder that we need to grasp that we are embodied beings. One of the down sides to much of our modern technology is that we begin to feel like our bodies are less and less important - a constraint to be broken through instead of an invitation to true presence. (This isn't a rant against the internet or Zoom, even cheesy long distance commercials from the 1970s seem to promise the joys of a disembodied existence.) Of course, the answer probably isn't to disavow our technology, but to see that it can't replace embodied existence. One of the possible "good" consequences of this season is that we will discover a deeper appreciation for the privilege of being present with one another.
Our bodies are important, and this is one reason, as Alan Jacobs says, "why the resurrection of the body is the penultimate item of our Creed." I could be off here, but I don't think there will be any Zoom calls in the new heavens and new earth. Thompson says:
We have just passed Easter, when we Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The embodied Jesus. Not an idea. Not wishful thinking. Rather, the physical presence of God on earth and on the move in the wake of all that evil could throw at him. God made our bodies as part of what it means for us to be human, and much like asking someone to breathe air that is only 15% oxygen instead of the normal 20%, we’re asking our bodies to do things they were not made to do.
As a result, it might not be a bad idea to consider some of Dr. Thompson's practical ways to stay sane in the midst of isolation, including taking walks, greeting other people when you can, singing and worshipping, and contemplative prayer. Yes, I've quoted about 30% of it already, but check out the whole article, it's helpful.
Worth Reading
If you have the time and inclination, consider picking up a good book on history. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I decided to work my way through a five-part biographical series on Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro. It's really good! But I'm famous (well, famous in my house) for trying to read way too much on one subject (it usually ends with me saying "I'll come back to this later" and then moving on forever to something new and shiny).
If you're looking for some briefer but still substantial history reads, Trevin Wax would like a word... He lists seven books, all of which I am using all of my willpower not to buy today. - except the one I already read, The Warmth of Other Suns, which I believe is one of the most important books written in recent decades. It's about the Great Migration. Please consider reading it at some point.
Worth Watching
Bryan Loritts is an outstanding author and preacher - here he gives a brief (20 minute) meditation on patience - it's addressed to college students, but you can easily apply it to people in quarantine :)
Worth Hearing
Excellent new single from Rain for Roots, "a collective group of musicians and songwriters who write singable Scripture songs for kids and grown ups alike." The group is headed by MPC favorite Sandra McCracken. The new single, "All Things Bright and Beautiful" isn't on YouTube but is available on Spotify. What a wonderful song!
Worth Tweeting
I thought this was a really wise thing to say. We are going to probably have some of these tensions at MPC, especially during any "in-between" time when gathering is allowed, but some distancing measures remain in place. Extending grace, as always, will be important:
Worth a Laugh
Okay, this one is a deep cut. We've been enjoying watching some old sports highlights so that the kids can learn more about sports history. This past Saturday, we watched That Championship Feeling, the feel-good story of the 1983 NBA playoffs (the last time the Sixers won the title). The whole thing is full of unintentional comedy, but I think the best part is how hard the producers of the video worked to incorporate songs that would demonstrate what was happening on the court. The best example might be this not-overly-dramatic-at-all use of "Just Once" by Quincy Jones to chronicle great players who never won a championship (this link will take you right to the good stuff).
https://youtu.be/Jk0WJT7RdYc?t=804
I'm not crying, you're crying! Watch the whole thing for other 80s classics that you didn't know were actually about basketball, like "I'm So Excited" and "What a Feeling."
That's all for now. Love you and miss you.
Jeff
Though we are separated during this unique season, we want you to know we are available. We will be doing our best to stay in touch in many ways, but if you need prayer or just need someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can always send a prayer request to Donna (mpcadminteam@gmail.com). You can also email or call Max or Jeff or any of our elders. Max's email is mbenfer@meadowcroftchurch.org and his phone # is 484-886-7726. Jeff's email is jeff@meadowcroftchurch.org and his phone number is 540-818-6215.