Today's Pondering: Tell Me Something Good…
Ecclesiastes 4
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died,
are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet been,
who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.
I find this set of verses so appropriate in light of the recent scandal that is being discussed regarding Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. These two individuals are two of my favorite celebrities. I have always thought very highly of them and was saddened by the reports that their relationship is suffering as a result of infidelity. But while I am disappointed, I also realize that this is none of my business. How many stories like this do we need to hear? At what point will we stop allowing the media to feed us so much damaging gossip and demand that they report the “good news?”
I’m not saying that we don’t need to know about bad things, I’m saying that there is absolutely no filter these days. I have no need to know much of what is being reported these days. The media will run a small blurb about the good works that a celebrity is doing (ie. charitable donations, volunteer work, etc.) and follow it up with an hour on infidelity, drug abuse and crimes committed by those who are being idolized in our society. Why not take the time to focus on something useful and inspire others to do the good instead of trying to emulate the stars by following the worst of their examples?
The media is the oppressor in this scenario and often, they won’t allow a celebrity to live in peace even after death. It is up to us to turn off the television or the radio until they begin to demand excellence in what they report. It’s about peace. It’s about respect for one another. Those who wield the pen have the power to do good or evil. Which will you support?
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My name is Rebecca Benston. I’m a Christian. I’m a woman. I’m a mother. I’m a writer. I’m a thinker. When I write fiction, I am usually writing a mystery series called The Rona Shively Stories. My P.I. character, Rona Shively is feisty, fearless and fabulous and is usually caught up in something she doesn’t want to be caught up in. In addition to this series, I also have a blog called Higher Ground for Life. Through this blog, I’m hoping to reach women or anyone who is seeking to develop a relationship with God and give them inspiration to get out there and follow His path for their lives!
I also have a blog called Leading the Follower. This one is my favorite. I write about religion, faith, spirituality and all that goes along with it. What we believe, what we don’t believe, what we are told to believe and how society feels about believing in general. I do a lot of testifying here and some of what I say may make you angry. Most of it will make you think. Some of it will make you cry. Any of it could make you laugh. It’s really up to you.
If you are looking for practical advice, honest conversation, and no nonsense observations about living in today’s world, check out my blogs at http://highergroundbooksandmedia.com and http://www.ronashively.wordpress.com and http://www.highergroundforlife.wordpress.com and http://www.leadingthefollower.wordpress.com. And if you’re so inclined, you can purchase my books and some other great, inspirational works from Higher Ground Books & Media at http://highergroundbooksandmedia.com.
Be blessed!
Leading the Follower 