Everyday the news headlines are filled with stories of death, destruction, and public outcries for change. This week alone I’ve read about the progression of an Ebola outbreak, the persecution of Christians, the protests over the police shooting death of an 18 year old, and how the perils of mental illness led to another celebrity suicide.
It’s sad.
I can’t pretend it doesn’t get to me.
But there was a time when I tried not to let it, thinking I was just too burnt out after years of dealing with it in the newsroom.
I unplugged from the world just after I had my baby. Not wanting to watch the news or hear about anymore death and destruction, anymore pain and suffering.
As a result, I turned a blind eye to stories we need to tell. Stories we need to hear.
It’s easy to do that when we’re consumed by the comforts in life, and not living their reality. We want to ignore things, or shrug them off and say there’s nothing we can do anyway.
However, that is something I realized we can’t do if we really want to see change in a hurting world.
We can’t cocoon ourselves.
We have to make sure the stories being told aren’t falling on deaf ears. We need to listen. Really listen. And change how we respond to them. Have a little empathy. Show a little compassion. Put down the stones. And pray.
As Maya Angelou said, we need to “be the change [we] want to see in the world.” That way, we can let those at the center of the suffering know they aren’t being ignored, and tell them that their stories matter too.
0 comments
Thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting. And thank you for sharing your thoughts too. This has been a horrible week in many ways, but we can’t shut our eyes. Empathy, compassion, and prayer are a good start. God bless you.
Claresa, it is so true that it is easy to close our ears and hearts to all the bad news, out of what feels like self-preservation, but that is not what we are called to do. Thanks for the reminder in the following words, “As Maya Angelou said, we need to “be the change [we] want to see in the world.” That way, we can let those at the center of the suffering know they aren’t being ignored, and tell them that their stories matter too.” Visiting from Five Minute Friday.
I have experimented with self imposed media bans. I agree with your sentiment that we need to really listen to affect change, even to the stories that make us uncomfortable. Thanks for sharing, your FMF neighbour.x
Goodness, I feel the same way in so many respects! May the Lord help us to listen, respond and pray. Thanks for linking up! So enjoyed this post.
Beautiful written from the heart of a Believer! Loved the post! Hopping here from FmF. Following you on bloglovin’!
Blessings to you and yours! Marie