We have a referendum on the constitution coming up here in Kenya in a week. We are encouraged not to get involved in politics here and so I really know little about the constitution. Occasionally a branch member or our guard will talk to us about it. As with every political issue, there are pros and cons and one must decide whether the good or the bad predominates and vote accordingly. We encourage our members to study the issues and vote as they feel best.
We catch the headlines on Yahoo news as we check our mail, and also skim the crises that seem to dominate life in "the real world." It seems the media flagellates people with one "end of the world" problem after another. I didn't delve into the oil spill that was to destroy the gulf for eons to come, but today I read an article called: Where did all the oil go? and it turns out the spill has largely disappeared due to some evaporation and mostly little microbes nature provided to gobble up the oil particles. It didn't wash up on shores much. It didn't sink to the ocean floor and smother it. Nor did it devour New York City or cause a meltdown of Wall Street. But the NEXT disaster.... na-na-na-na ( The Jaws theme song)! Watch out. Get your blood pressure up. Find safe shelter! It's sure to be the BIG disaster.
I'm not saying we don't have disasters. There's record flooding, drought, earthquakes, and mud slides. Banks fail, people lose jobs, they die. There are genocides, wars, starvation. I just wish the media would help, not hype. I've learned that the words could and might-- as in "This could be the storm of the century and might wipe out all of Florida." Also means it could not, and might not and that is much more likely the case. It seems to me we would all be happier if we focused on what we could do and change, and less on things over which we have no control.
What I love about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the peace that comes from understanding the plan of salvation. There is peace when you know where you come from and what the purpose of earth life is. In part, it is to be tried and tested, to have adversity and to see how you will handle that adversity. Will you act Christ-like, or not? And when you know that this life is not all there is-- that it is just a brief moment and we will all continue to live into the eternities and be judged by our thoughts, words and actions here-- the decisions we make here and the way we act here take on a different meaning. Death is not a disaster. Problems are not insurmountable with the Savior at our side. The Joy of the gospel is not "pie in the sky by and by," but a very real help in overcoming difficulties in the here and now.
The Gospel brings joy, peace, strength, compassion, love and resilience. It insulates us from the heartburn of media hype. Of course, turning off the TV helps, too. End of rant.
I totally agree. And isn't it interesting... I read the same article on "Where has the oil gone?" Man, for all his ranting, raving and spending, got rid of 1-2% of the oil. God took care of 98-99%. Does He get the credit?
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