There is a new
type of porn running rampant, “tragedy porn,” more aptly called “heartbreak
porn.” I can scroll through my Facebook feed, or I can go to any news station
website and there will be any number of videos or pictures putting someone’s
heartbreak on display. There is a new breed of ambulance chasers. Technology is
dehumanizing us. Too often we sit behind the safety of an electronic screen.
Sifting through the rubble, wreckage, and ashes of someone else’s life. Perhaps
with thoughts of “How awful.” “What a shame.” Services them right.” Glad it’s
not me.” “Someone needs to do something about that.” But there is a degree of
separation. We get to walk away from
without getting dirty, no ashes to wash away. The truth is we are not walking
away clean, or at least we should not be.
The part of us that makes us human is getting dirty. I will confess that
I will read stories. I will check as many facts as I can. I do not watch videos
if I can avoid it. I will occasionally look at photos. During my time wandering through the lives of
others, I pray. Most often I have no words, just a heart that is broken. It is
broken for the families that lost loved ones in an accident. It breaks for
those that have lost everything in a disaster. My heart weeps for those that
feel shame in their lives because they have some type of stigma attached to
them. I am heartbroken for the victims. I am sad for the person that is
victimizing. My heart is broken for the
homeless and the hopeless. I am grieved for more than I can put into words,
because words are too simple for the grieved spirit. I am angry. I am appalled.
I am dismayed. We as a people are failing. One thing that I do have is hope,
confident expectation, or as a dear friend and sister says JOYFUL expectation.
The wonderful thing about HOPE is I do not have to know the how and the why for
it. HOPE, much like FAITH, is assurance that things which are uncertain,
unclear and unknown will change. HOPE and Faith require action. An action of
LOVE. LOVE is not passive. LOVE moves to COMPASSION. COMPASSION is LOVE in action.