A Soapbox Moment.

I spent part of my morning watching The 700 Club, which usually gets my blood boiling.
 Rightly so? I’m not sure.

Regardless, the show causes a type of soapbox fever to come over me and I feel the urgent need to react.

Are they always wrong? No, I’m sure they aren’t. And I’m not always right!

Unfortunately, having a decent point is destroyed when you take such a pompous, divisive stance. We see this on both sides. Left and Right.

The first 15 minutes of the program was dedicated to the financial crisis. This is an incredibly important subject but I feel like most outlets in the Christian media address the subject improperly. Money and only money was the subject; how we’re running out, spending it wrongly, and how in months financial meltdown will ensue. This country will become a third world nation in no time.

They aren’t saying anything I haven’t said before. In fact I said almost the same thing a few nights ago. Only when I give into doubt and negativity I have friends who reprimand me, challenge my tone, and ask me to put my hope in Christ. They convict me to be better. Every day is a challenge to not despair and walk in hope.

My biggest problem is these programs do not have that same system. They accuse others of fear mongering yet they themselves spell out doomsday theories for America. They exclaim the rights the religious movement is losing and how soon, Christians won’t be able to function in society. I listened to the worry in their voice as the subject of tax hikes entered the conversation. Why the worry? Why fear? You work on a television program; you have a house and food.

This kind of worry isn’t right when I do it. It isn’t right when they do it.

God cares for the world. It’s a screwed up place because of our selfish pursuits but God still cares for the world.

We will get what we need; not always what w want but what we need.

Christians and the programs we subscribe to need to stop worrying about all the things that we have; things, which by scriptural concept weren’t ours to begin with. If the very breath of life and the food we eat is a blessing then what are the material things we enjoy? Blessings upon Blessings.

Accountability should be prevalent in the community concerning this subject. The less we worry about our discomfort the more we can concern ourselves with more important crises. The famine in Somalia, the countless children in this country who go hungry every night, or the young girls sold into sex trafficking rings. (None of these subjects were touched on in the current events segment of the show while several stories demonizing democrats and gays were.)

Let’s stand up and ask the programs, believing in the same God we do, to speak better and more responsibly. Ask them to humble themselves because in the end it is their pomposity that makes them distasteful.  

And though I disagree with many things these programs broadcast I can still be grateful for the Grace that we both have the freedom of opinion. Also, that we both have the same goal in mind; to touch the world with the love Christ has changed us with.

Stop.

Stop.

Stop for just a moment and be grateful.

Today I spent most of the early afternoon upset; cleaning my kitchen. My mind tends to race when I’m angered or worried. It spins about, jumping from one subject to the next without taking a breath to properly react to the issue.

My computer’s mouse pad is unresponsive.

How much more will the cost of living go up?

I’m sick of cleaning this damn kitchen.

I hate my job.

I’m tired of paying back college debt.

The whole world seems like it’s falling apart completely.

On and on and on until I can’t do much but watch all these anxieties build up. They compile until I swear I see Destruction strolling down the street on his way to pay me a visit: doom at my doorstep.

It’s hard to break this pattern of thought. But then, gently, a different thought snuck in;

At least I have a kitchen to clean.

I stopped and smiled.

I have a kitchen to clean. I have 10 dollars to purchase a USB mouse for my computer. I have a job that’s paying my bills. The world’s problems are too large for me to fix alone but there are small things I can do.

These different thoughts came flooding in and I realized I had nothing to be upset about. Worry entices us to despair, condemning us to fixate on the unpredictability of the future. In it we only see what we don’t have, won’t do, or can’t be. Worry is a dangerous thing. We quickly forget that today is all that we have. Right now. It’s all you’ve got. Seconds could pass from now and a piano could plunge through your roof and crush you dead where you sit. We only have the moment we exist in. Why spend it worrying about the things that aren’t promised. As I’ve always tried to say: The sun will come up tomorrow and if it doesn’t, we’re going to have more important issues to worry about.

So take the time spent worrying and use it elsewhere. Try loving more, creating, laughing, or simply being grateful because we have breath in our lungs, a place to sleep, and food to eat. We could, more importantly, spend it helping those who aren’t afforded those luxuries.

Try it, this being grateful business. We aren’t perfect; we will fail at times but try it.

Stop for a moment and be grateful.

It's true, I'm a terrible blogger.

Like the title states. I'm pretty much terrible at keeping with blogging and not only that, but keeping with projects in general. I never quite finish anything that I begin. But do not fear, I've resolved to change this. There will be several upcoming entries for this blog as well as an entirely new blog consisting of movie reviews http://inthecenterseat.blogspot.com/

Keep your eyes open for new entries on their way!