“Tonight. Breaking news as we come on the air.”
David Muir begins his ABC World News Tonight broadcast with that same sentence every weeknight.
I feel his intensity in my bones, see the piercing focus in his eyes, hear the low hum of danger in his voice, and I can’t decide if I should shut off the TV, or brace for impact.
Instead, I’ve just started talking back to him.
“Yes, David. Something bad has happened and you’re going to tell us all about it.”
“Can you share anything besides tragedy at the top of the hour?”
“Is it breaking news? Didn’t we hear something similar yesterday?”
“Could you lower the intensity just a bit?”
It gets hard to listen to the news-bringers, doesn’t it?
Sigh.
It’s important to know what’s going on in our world—to be aware and informed. It’s also important to bring hope into hearts and hurts. And that’s what we can do.
We cannot live a full life—an abundant life—if we only hear about the storm clouds, if we only focus on what’s awful, hurtful, and tragic.
So let’s bring the news that highlights what’s good. Healing. Hopeful.
My Bible study time often includes reading and praying the words from Philippians 2:14-16.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”
The Message writes it this way: “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
I want to live like that. Don’t you?
When we say Yes! to Jesus, we carry the Holy Spirit with us. All the time. We are the vessel that carries God’s love, compassion, and hope into every room, home, church, store, and relationship. What a sacred responsibility. And what a way to make a difference!
We – you and I – can bring light into the darkness.
Life into the brokenness.
Peace into the chaos.
Hope into the despair.
How? We bring Jesus.
We listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We notice who He places in front of us. We speak God’s truth. Share His love. Show His compassion.
So.
Let’s bring the word of life.
Let’s shine like the stars.
Let’s bring the breath of fresh air.
Let’s provide a glimpse of the living God.
Let’s bring the presence of Jesus
into every single moment.
Messages of joy
instead of news of doom.” (Isaiah 61:3)
You and I—we can do this.
Let’s go.
