Editor's Note   I Can't have it both ways   By Darcy L. Fargo

October 22, 2025

We’re called to be “in the world but not of the world,” but I spend a lot of time trying to be both.

It’s something that’s been on my heart and on my mind a lot lately.

I spend hours every day wasting time on social media. I have a music playlist that’s probably half full (maybe more than half) of songs with objectionable language and themes. I don’t really watch movies or TV, but when I do, there’s often themes of violence, questionable relationships, party culture… The same could be said of some of my book choices.

In Matthew’s Gospel, we’re told, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Time and energy are certainly treasures to me. So, what does it say about me when I’m putting so much of my time and energy into content that is “of the world?”

It certainly doesn’t say, “woman who loves Jesus.”

Since I know I’m unlikely to just scrap my playlist, my social media, my viewing preferences, I’ve been trying to make little steps that infuse more Jesus and more positive messaging into my time and energy.

To be honest, it’s been a struggle. I’ve struggled to find content to listen to while I exercise, something that gives me that same boost I get from aggressive music. I find a lot of spiritual reading to be not very engaging or exciting. I struggle even to come up with ideas for content to watch, listen to or read.

Because of that struggle, I recently started what a friend refers to as “crowdsourcing spirituality.” I think of it as “letting the Holy Spirit speak through others.”

I’ve asked a handful of my friends some version of:
• “What have you read that you think everyone should read?”
• “What music/podcasts help you feel closer to Christ?”

No matter what they say, even if it’s something I think I’ll hate, I give it a try. While I’ve yet to come up with content for when I’m exercising (I’m open to suggestions), I’ve been exposed to music and ideas I otherwise would’ve likely missed, content that has helped me feel closer to Christ. Taking the recommendations of others has also resulted in great conversations that have also helped bring me closer to our Lord.

And that’s out of this world.