Several news media and most certainly on the NBC Nightly News, news anchors Lester Holt, Jose Diaz-Balart or Kate Snow will warn viewers that an upcoming story contains images which some “might find disturbing.” Really?
It must be network policy to issue this warning before some judged to be particularly unsettling, televised mayhem is about to appear on the screen. I get it, I guess. Perhaps there are some innocents watching whose eyes and ears must be “protected” from what will follow the warning. But in our society awash with seemingly endless depravity in language and behavior I am pressed to know just who those innocents might be.
The truth for me is that save for the segments entitled, “There’s Good News Tonight” which usually come at the very end of the nightly news reports, I find the entire news broadcast “disturbing.” The unrelenting reports of the day’s events – worldwide, national, or local – filled as they are with ample evidence of human failings are most disturbing. Disturbing is a rather mild word to describe the goings on which ‘make’ the news.
This is not a criticism of news broadcasting. What is disturbing is that so many newsmakers who get media attention are such glaring examples of the worst of behaviors and the worst of motives. Instead, those newsmakers are evidence of the absence of any high calling or sense of regard for others. What is disturbing is the routine acceptance of example after example of the seemingly complete takeover of selfishness, corruption, and lust for power at any cost in civic life.
One of the ways in which I work to remain hopeful in these times is to think of the late United Methodist Bishop, James S. Thomas.
Many years ago, in a spontaneous comment during a heated session of the East Ohio Annual Conference over which he was presiding, Thomas remarked that explaining why there is evil in the world is not nearly as difficult for him as explaining why in this world there is good. Where does good come from? What is its power? Why is it that in such constant moral swamp lands in which we find ourselves good lasts, endures, advances, saves, and inspires?
Such questions constantly tug at me. I find no particularly compelling answers. Rather, focusing on such questions raises my spirits and as it were, gets my hopes up.
The astounding questions of why in this world that knows of such famine on both physical and spiritual levels there continue to be food banks; individuals, groups, and even nations that step in, step out, and step up to provide what will nourish and enable is most certainly a great and happy mystery about which to ponder. The result of thinking on such things may not increase the enjoyment of life or minimize the pain and outrage over another act of evil, but such thinking certainly strengthens endurance as well as calls forth courage to face and contribute to live vibrantly yet another day.
Evil most certainly abounds. And, so often evil in all its manifestations seems to be carrying the day. But for all the centuries of evidence of evil’s existence, there is the astonishing reality of ever-present good at work. It is a great and wonderful mystery wrapped in evidence of us humans thinking and doing our astonishing best.
I do not think that goodness is a natural disposition of the human heart and mind. I think that our natural tendency is toward narcissistic advantage. Me and my concerns and efforts come naturally and can be exploited. Care for others is learned and discovering the methods of caring for others must be learned and practiced.
Evil comes quite naturally while desires to pursue caring are inspired in us, taught to us by marvelous examples, and sustained in us by a sense of peace that indeed passes all our understanding amid unrelenting and beguiling evil. Absolutely Bishop Thomas was correct. The presence of good in the world is much more difficult to explain yet much more wonderful to recognize, experience, and contribute.
So, the disturbing news be damned.
Instead of giving the news more emotional attention than it deserves, I choose to embrace the mystery of goodness. It is far more uplifting and filled with wonder than being consumed by the news and the reality of evil’s unrelenting nonsense.
One of the most ancient bloggers, the apostle Paul said it this way:
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.
Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s (read as love in action) law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.
Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience…
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.
Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Galatians 6:1-6, 9. The Message.