Here is the News – at 6pm, 10pm or every 24 hours, on television, radio, to your computer, iPhone, mobile … 24/7.
News everywhere, anywhere.
A non-stop catalogue of disasters, murders, abuse, system cheating, scandal, comes to us in a continuous stream.
“We give the people what they want,” say the journalists. It has been suggested that the public seeks sensationalism and does not want to be preached at.
Attempts to publish good news have failed miserably, apparently.
But the Good News is out there and, whether we like it or not, it gets through.
Take the natural disasters we hear about so often: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, fires – within days, even hours we hear of rescue workers risking their own lives to save others; teams flying out to offer help and expertise; money pouring in to aid agencies and charities.
News comes through of bombings and mass murders – and we hear of truth being sought; forgiveness offered; love and tears shared.
And we do not remain immune, but offer what we can in solidarity, in giving, in prayer.
This is the Good News: brought to us by Jesus; news of a love out there that envelops us all and commits us to care for each other.
For every one person who, for whatever reason, cheats, lies, steals and acts with no thought for others, there are ten who lead quiet lives of looking out for others in neighbourliness – proving that loving your neighbour is still a good maxim to live by.
So we need to hear the bad news – without it, how can sympathy, love, pity and aid fly round the world? We need to look for the Good News of community spirit and individual kindliness.
But if you find that the newspaper you take regularly fails to report anything but the bad stuff, then may I respectfully suggest you exercise the Power of the Purse – and don’t buy it.
(But please don’t apply that to Wokingham Today – there’s always some good news in there).
Rosi MorganBarry from Rose Street Methodist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
