The News...

Recently ive become a bit of a news junkie! I dont watch the six o clock and to be honest i dont think i ever could or at least not consistantly! But I have developed a fascination for http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ and http://www.stuff.co.nz/ (the later in recent days has perhaps moved into the realms of a trashier yet more sophisticated publication consisting light hearted opinions of what you could percieve as news - mere opinion) but i find myself several times a day logging on to get my latest fix of juicy bulletins.

Someone suggested the idea of taking a news break... so often we consume news with such an apathetic approach we hear, see, hear some more, read and it all becomes one big story of nothingness... its almost as if I become immune to the effect that news is meant to have on me...

which got me thinking... what is the point of news? the point of knowing things, the point of keeping up to date with current affairs? Other then the ability to smoke a pub quiz current events round... people watch, listen to or read the news to stay informed, to form an opinion, but the idea of News for Entertainment... What?

Is this a new idea? in the 18th Century did people scour the tabloids for amusment? In the 80s was the attitude the same as today... I think it could be a reflection on our communication technology. The accesibility we have to media sources as well as the accesibility we now have to the world!

So I heard this story about a lady who couldnt hear needs in the news without doing something. She was devistated when people were hungry, homless, sick, stranded, abandoned, she couldnt hear stories of injustice and poverty without acting herself and doing all she could to make the situation better... she began telling people dont tell me about it cos im gunna have to fight for it!

Amazing story! and such an inspiration! Got me thinking what the world would be like if we responded to the needs we saw, heard or read about in the news... what transformations would we see?

So an idea I came up with... when watching, hearing or reading the news why not pray...
pray for restoration, for healing, for justice and mercy for compassion and love and for peace and joy! In situations where the darkness is real and the cry is unrelenting.