Michael Munson (Spiritual Direction Coordinator for Vineyard) and Mark Crosby (Director of Communications for Vineyard) recently had a conversation about the intersection between digital and spiritual, which explored the themes of silence, busyness – specifically around podcasts – and an invitation from God in this season to re-explore our spiritual practises.
Here is the transcript of their conversation…
MM: During the lockdown, it has been reported that there has been a decrease in podcast listening numbers of between 10-20%. Why do you think podcast numbers are down. Because of commuting?
MC: Yes, or when people are exercising they might be choosing to exercise with others. Alone time used to be an opportunity to also engage in audio time. Free time has become precious shared time in a new way. One form of exercise per day has made it more of a shared activity – especially for families and housemates.
MM: What does this reveal about how and why people consume audio-only?
MC: I think people have been choosing to fill their ‘free’ time with sound, over solitude. Honestly, I think for some it’s trying to fill time efficiently.
MM: Unpack that…
MC: For many, there has been the dilemma of ‘how do I make sure I catch-up on all the amazing podcasts that everyone has been talking about… But my life is so busy…I don’t have free time. I’m so tired in the evenings I just want to crash out. How about if I listen in the car, on the bus, whilst running or walking. Then I can do two activities at the same time. I can fit in that which I wouldn’t otherwise be able to fit in…I can make sure I don’t miss out’
I think the high listener rates of podcasts have been a symptom of over-busy lives. The format allows it to go in your ears, whilst your body is doing something else. The format of audio-only invites multitasking. Not that I think podcasts are all bad! Cooking and catching up on a sermon or interview can be helpful – podcasts can be a great way to be equipped!
MC: What do you think? Why do we need silence to pursue spirituality?
MM: I think we need silence to pursue life. Silence offers freedom. Freedom from our addictions to noise, to business, technology. The list can go on. Silence offers us a space to realise the world can exist without us for an hour, a day, a week.
MC: So how do we then engage with helpful content like this, without sacrificing silence?
MM: I think it’s funny, the answer to this question. Because it’s the very thing we are seeking by using podcasts. We are trying to find balance, rhythm, ways to live life or just escape. It’s true that podcasts are not bad, sounds, noises having those things in our lives is not bad. But we have grabbed a hold of them because in some cases they help us escape what is right in front of us. Or even a bit more scary, it helps us escape what is just inside of us. We need to balance the noise with silence. We need a rhythm of life that allows for both. How many of us in the current COVID pandemic have lamented our old broken rhythms? We know we need rhythms, but bad rhythms make bad fruit in our lives, good rhythms, balanced rhythms create life in us.
MC: Escape is fascinating. I’d love to know what you think about how sound disconnects us from the cry of our soul? Whilst in worship, music connects us with Jesus and our soul.
MM: Well I hate to say it out loud but the podcast can disconnect us from our inner cry just as much as worship music can, or addiction to spiritual emotionalism can. It usually comes down to this; we make the wrong thing the main thing. Worship music points us to Jesus and the experienced presence of God, but worship is not the thing. Then also podcasts they point to betterment, and ways to live, but we need at some point to turn it off, stop, slow down, put ourselves in a moment with the God who is present with us, and be with him. Not “do”, but be with him.
MC: Before lockdown, I was exploring the theme around continuous worship playlists playing in the background all the time. Then Sam Lane, Worship Pastor at St Albans Vineyard, tweeted this:
How much of our worship is designed to feed our ‘need’ for distraction, for entertainment? In this digital age where our brains have an insatiable desire for more ‘input’, but our souls need rest… and God just desires our attention, our hearts, our listening ear.
I responded to him with:
So good Sam. just this week I was wondering if there’s a risk we can block out the still quiet voice of God with relentless worship playlists which distract us from relationship and space with him. Certainly my own experience.
MC: Isn’t this the risk you’re talking about, Michael? –Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harp’ (Amos 5)?
MM: Amen brothers! The point of spiritual formation into christ-likeness, isn’t actually about becoming like Christ. The point of spiritual formation, the point of worship, the point of life is one thing, Jesus. All the other things happen after that, they are products or after effects if you will of coming face to face with the pinnacle of all things, the person of Jesus.
MC: I have watched your journey in Spiritual Formation, we have chatted about this over pipes in my back garden and whisky late into the night. This is something that runs deep in you. So, to close, what would you encouragement be in this season?
MM: Mmm we should do pipes and whiskey together when this is all done. Right now in all areas of life we have an amazing opportunity. All of our rhythms have been destroyed, at pretty much every level of society. It has caused disorientation on a massive scale to many of us. But we can now step from disorientation into reorientation. And I encourage all of us in this season, please, reorient your life on the person of Jesus in every area of life. Create the rhythm of life you were too busy to create before, now is the time. Make a new set of rules for your life, it will never be easier than now, during this most difficult of times. Jesus extends to you right now, an invitation, his hand is outstretched, and he is waiting for you in the silence, the stillness of your soul.
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Michael and his team of Spiritual Directors have been creating short videos to help you connect with Jesus and rest in his presence. You can find these here:
