If I...
Scripture Reading: Psalm 55:6-8
And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find shelter from the raging wind and tempest.
Whether intentional or not, social media influencers mostly promote various lifestyles that leave you with the impression that there is a utopian world that exists where you can be free from stress, troubles, and heartaches. Whether that is “van-life,” homesteading, traveling the world, or working remotely they put before the world a message that if you pursue the life they are living you will finally be at rest.
David didn’t have to scroll Instagram or TikTok to be lured into that kind of fantasy thinking. All he had to do was observe a dove as it flew away. He started to imagine what a great life that would be. If he were a dove he could just fly away from all his troubles. He could go to some remote land and live unmolested by his enemies.
Escaping the present reality is the dream for many people. They see escape as the only way out. There is wisdom in taking stock of where you are in life and why you find yourself there. Shedding unnecessary burdens that are complicating your life can be helpful. A simpler life can be a good pursuit.
But that is not the same as escapist fantasies. David was imagining a life that he couldn’t possibly live. He would never be a dove. He was also imagining a life that wasn’t true. Even the dove has to worry about predators. It has to find food to eat and places to sleep safely. Those alternate lives you fantasize about are just that – fantasies that don’t exist.
The van-life folks have to deal with blown engines, cramped living spaces, and the high price of fuel. That Instagram model put on that smile and pose just before the photo was taken. Even then, she had to get some Photoshop work done. Her “journey” isn’t all you think it is.
Paul reminds us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6). Contentment does not mean we don’t grow, change, or pursue good things in life. It does mean we aren’t sitting around imagining ourselves as doves flying off into an idyllic world that doesn’t exist.
