Do you watch the news? Read up on current events? If so, you’re aware of wars, conflict, strife, disease, weather disasters, deaths and other evils happening around the world every day.
The amount of suffering and trouble faced by humanity can get downright depressing if you succumb to believing that all world events are reported in the news. Thankfully, they are not!
Everything happening in the world is not reported in the news. In fact, very little is mentioned. For the most part, the news media reports stories that catch attention. And often those stories are sensationalized, even bent to the glory of evil to grab even more attention.
To counter the negative effect of a preponderance of reporting on disasters and strife, for every account of evil I often step back and think of all the good going on around me.
When a messy divorce is covered, I remember all the successful marriages I know of. They are many! For every child gone astray, I can count dozens of children raised in happy homes receiving strong moral and spiritual education to make the world a better place. For every failed business, I can drive down the main street in town and find dozens of successful businesses. For every war, I can find many countries that get along.
Yes, there is way too much evil happening in this world, but there is a whole lot more good happening. Reporting harmony and peace among people doesn’t improve ratings for news outlets, so the good is generally ignored. But it is happening, and on a grand scale.
There is much more good going on in the world than evil. It’s not hard to find when one looks.
So, remember to keep the balanced perspective when listening to the news! It will keep you in a healthier mental state and better able to be an influence for even more good.
So very true Evan. The newspapers never speak much about the good events happening in the world, though there is plenty of good going around. Instead of grabbing a newspaper early morning, its so much better to start our day with dwelling on the goodness of God, the beautiful world he has made, the new dawn we awake to, the sweet birds making melody, the lovely landscapes, the fresh morning breeze. Its also a good idea to see through the sad events and know that good alone is real and permanent, that man can never be separated from God, his maker and is always in his embrace and care.
Thanks, Evan, and Nargis for such a clear perspective on what is really going on. The good news that Jesus proclaimed and proved: well that’s what is going on,isn’t it? I love that the “news” of God’s allness (the first commandment) is unifying men and nations, constituting the brotherhood of man , ending wars, and annihilating whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political and religions codes, equalizing the sexes, annulling the curse on man/woman (the curse proclaiming we are just mortal, material beings) and leaving nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished, or destroyed (see Science and Health, page 340–this is not a direct quote) Now this is GOOD NEWS! It’s happening every minute! Rejoice!
Hi Evan,
So powerful truth! I think of it everyday and make an effort to really keep my consciousness connect with God – good thoughts that come to our mind and which give impulse to so many good around us and everyone else. This thought even helps those that are being threatened by the belief of a power opponent to God, divine Mind, which is really not true.
Good reason to read the Christian Science Monitor.
lI love reading about “People Making a Difference” in each issue of The Monitor. So much good going on from their individual efforts.
God bless you Evan for writing this blog. Yeah! Why doesn’t the media print good news for a change. And as for sensationalism, I can find a million stories of good happening right before me that definitely will bring mass readership instead of the downward side of humanity. If the C/S Monitor can emphasize the good and make it exciting, so too can all media. I know of plenty of non-Scientists that would jump to read and hear good news on radio and tv instead of hearing and seeing all this crap that’s not even universal or majoritie.
An uncle told me that it’s called “news” because it’s unusual and out of the ordinary — that there is a great preponderance of good and, because of that, what is reported as “news” are the events that stand out as abnormal. So the time one might get more concerned is when the general media is reporting all good stuff, because it’s what is standing out and catching attention in a world of grimness. That said, I still appreciate the Monitor and reports of good wherever I find them!
🙂 Kind of brings out the ‘old saying’………”No news is good news.” But seriously, love our CS Monitor!!! So grateful for Mrs. Eddy’s vision and persistence.
Thankyou Evan. This is such sound advice. It is so easy to get mesmerised into thinking we must watch the news so that we can treat it when we pray. Or that we need to know what is going on and what is coming next like a soap opera. It is so easy to get dragged into believing in its reality. Praying must be much easier if we dont take in all this scenario.
The Christian Science Monitor is the answer indeed. What a blessing it is to the world at large.
Ted.
Thank you Evan, Nargis and all for your comments. I stopped all newspapers except the Monitor years ago because I got so tired of the sensationalism (and all the advertisements!!!). I had always started my day with prayers even before I learned of Science, and was so pleased 55 years ago when the corporation I worked for in CA sent the secretaries of management personnel to a stress workshop. Their biggest advice!! Never start your day listening to the news or reading the newspapers – too much negativity to start a day. Too bad that isn’t stressed today! So grateful for The Monitor and all our periodicals – and for this technological age that gives us the opportunity for these Blogs!!!
Thanks Evan and all posters. This blog also helps spread the good news!