You remember, right, how I’m not down with the way the news is presented continuously every day? Those personalities who are reporting their take on news seem to be likeable enough, but they’re just feeding us what some producer or editor has told them and shows them by teleprompter or some “ticker-tape” news feed. And I hate it for them. They have to talk about bad news. (Not to be confused with “fake” news, which is a whole other can of worms that, in my opinion, isn’t a can at all. This commentary has nothing to do with the integrity of what is commonly called “The Fourth Estate,” the esteemed name for the role of the press in society.) They have to intrude on our days or shows or music with reports of how the world is not good, is violent, disintegrating, and degrading, hasn’t seen the light. And it’s all about ratings! (!@#$%&*) It all feels so hopeless.
So I no longer watch the “news.” (And don’t start with me on the “So you keep your head in the sand,” nonsense, or, “Ignorance is bliss,” or any other response that reflects what the rest of the world does. If you do, then I’ll say to you, “Well, if ____ jumps off a cliff, would you?”) None of it blesses me, edifies me, comforts me, encourages me, gives me hope. I want to be fed “good” news, news that gives me hope, that enlightens me, that inspires me, that is nourishing to my soul. So I don’t look to the radio or TV to do any of that for me. (I actually watched Good Morning America this morning to “test” my claim here. They went 17 minutes before one of them said, “Now for something positive, happy.”) I read the newspaper because I can look at its content and decide what I want to consume. Advantage, newspapers and magazines! But even to that kind of news I limit my exposure.
As for me, I know where I go to get my Good News (that’s what it’s called in the Bible), and I go there every day. That Good News gives me hope, encourages me, inspires me, comforts me, assures me that there’s more to life than merely meets the eyes or ears. Does it mean everything will turn up roses? Hardly. That’s not the point. The point is that I believe God cares about it all, and the way God best shows that God cares is by imbuing all of Life with the Spirit of God. Which includes me…and you.
Yep, that’s right. You and I are the incarnation, the fullest embodiment of God’s Good News! (Which, by the way, is what Christmas is about: God being born in the flesh of Jesus the Christ.) Indeed, when we companion someone in need, we are good news. When we do good, we are like the very Spirit of God moving over the face of troubled waters. When we make any positive difference in the world, we are the light and salt that God hoped we’d be. And it ought to make the news every time!
So, where do you go for your good news? To be sure, you don’t have to believe like I believe to make a positive, hopeful, edifying difference in the world. Whatever good you do, know that God is in it and blesses it. “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living,” wrote the psalmist (27:14).
What do you believe? How will you do good today? How will you be that good today?
I can hardly wait to see!
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