Restoring Hope

So I have sat here and started to type for a good 10 minutes. I guess there is no good way to start a post like this. To say this has been an interesting week would probably be an understatement. Our nation has witnessed more violence and outrage this year than I think it has since 9/11. We have watched as people have been gunned down on movies theatres, and now in an elementary school. The east coast saw flooding, and devastation, as did the mid-west and my home state of Texas. Homes have been lost, families put under immense pressure and sadly, lives lost. We pray. We unite in times of despair. We attempt to restore hope.

The worst part of all this devastation is that at times I found myself despondent and desensitized. I grew annoyed at the over load on facebook and twitter. I was angry at the over reporting and flat out wrong reports. I turned off the TV and social medial because I just couldn't hear anymore. I was ashamed of myself for what I thought was not caring. Then I realized I just couldn't take it. In my lifetime I feel like I have witnesses more horror and shock than most because of the heightened media outlets. There's not a second of the day that goes by that I cannot recount or find recounted by any variation of media outlets. Our society is barraged by constant communication and "news."

We have grown up with up-the-minute coverage of wars, tragedy, violence. I can witness anyone's fall from grace or rise to fame at a moment's notice and via Facebook, Twitter, Internet, TV all at once. I myself find myself communication with people on several interfaces at one time. It's no wonder we have such travesty plaguing out nation.

Children have learned that to be recognized and praised means garnering attention, I mean we sensationalize people like Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton... No one wants to grow up and be a doctor or teacher, they want to be famous as evidenced by the rise of Honey Boo Boo and Toddlers in Tiaras, heck even the Bachelor!

I wouldn't be shocked if an alien from another planet visited our planet and wanted to leave because of what they learned about our nation. If you watch TV or read or listen to the "news" we are seemingly self-absorbed, consumerists who show little to no compassion, worship materialistic things and have almost non-existent faith in something higher. We appear to value instant fame over hard work, handouts over education, labels over comforts, lust over true love.

We need to restore hope; stand back and rethink our values and principles; instill in our children those things that are truly important in life; and place an importance on faith, hope and love.

I challenge all of you to think about what is really important this Holiday season. Remember the reason for the season. God put on this earth our Lord to save us. What a miracle. However, if you are not Christian, and do not share my beliefs, still remember that there is more to Christmas and life for that matter than the material wants of our world. Step back and evaluate where you are and where you want to go and how you plan to get there. Someday you will be judged and I hope I will be looked at and admired not for what I had, but what I gave the world.