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christian author, harlequin author, inspiratational author, love inspired author, phil 4:8, whatever is pure
I’m a person without a filter. Most people can watch the news and feel a bit of a personal distance from the tragedies, but I can’t. My solution has been to stop watching the news. It might sound shallow, but I’ll surf the Yahoo news for pleasant stories and celebrity gossip. It’s about all my poor heartstrings can handle.
I recently came across an article that said that we should be careful about what we allow into our minds. Violent images actually change us when we see them, and after seeing enough of these horrors, we actually have a lower ability to feel sympathy for the victims. And there is no un-seeing it. You have to live with that image in your mind for the rest of your life. One click of the mouse, and you are stuck with it forever.
I once watched a TED video by a guy recounting war tragedies in Afghanistan, and there was one that broke my heart so badly that I turned everything off and just cried. It was horrible. I still think of it from time to time, when I desperately don’t want to. It pops into my mind. I can’t make peace with it. It’s torn my heart in a way that just won’t heal. I can’t un-see it! Do I really need to know the worst horrors that humanity is capable of in order to sympathize with the victims?
Now, this idea of guarding what goes into our minds is not shocking for Christians. This is part of our faith. Whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is of good report… But we also believe in helping those who need it, and not turning our backs on the suffering. So how do you balance it all?
I don’t have the answers. If I did, I wouldn’t have a loop of that TED video going through my head when I try to sleep at night. I CAN’T balance it all. So I err on the side of protecting my heart and mind. I choose the beautiful and the noble and the right.
And the rest? I give to charities who help. That’s the only solution I can come up with. I put my money where my heart breaks, and I pray.
There are stories I listen to and watch and stories I don’t. As an abuse survivor, I know the importance of telling the story and having someone listen. I also learned the importance not running off at the mouth. I learned that some people are able to hear the story and need to hear it and others don’t. I’ve listened to a lot of heartbreaking stories because I figure if they could live through it I could hear it. I’m more careful about what I see because that which has been seen cannot be unseen. I’ve read “Lone Survivor,” and “American Sniper” is in my TBR pile. I don’t think I’ll see either movie; the book is enough. I saw “Passion of the Christ” for the first time a couple of years ago. I prepared the week of Easter and watched it on our local TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) channel. I wouldn’t recommend everyone see it. I’m not sorry I did. Some days I’m able to hear difficult things better than others. You’re right; it’s important to know yourself.
Yes, I think knowing yourself is key. I know have no filter, which most people have. So I tread carefully! But that said, those who have endured have my heart and sympathy. Including you!
I’m like you, Patricia, when it comes to the news. Plus, there are some book and movie topics I stay away from because they’re too heartbreaking and I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
Me, too. For me my entertainment has to be that–entertaining. Real life is heartbreaking enough for me! I suppose it makes sense that I’m drawn to happily ever afters. 🙂