I've been avoiding news-y TV like the plague. So I'm wondering, which of the above categories do I actually fall into?
One reason is that I've been really busy just living my own "normal" (or abnormal, really!) life of being a Mommy, wife, volunteer, housekeeper, chef, accountant, dog handler, chauffeur, laundry woman, knitter, seamstress, dish washer, personal shopper, full-service gas attendant, decorator...well...I'm sure you get the idea! (Shallow? Because life is going on "as usual" for me, but not for "them"?)
Part of me can't handle the footage of yet another major catastrophe (after this Fall's hurricane season and living in the midst of it, can you blame me?), just because emotionally I am not sure if I can stomach it. The astronomical numbers of the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami are just mind-boggling! The footage and stories (the few I've read/heard) are so sad. I have kids, and a job, and no money, so I can't just drop everything and leave; but I also can't financially make a difference either. (Weak? Because I don't want to see any more devastation and lives in ruin?)
Then there's the part of me who's trying to be a responsible parent. Sometimes there is so much media coverage on things that you can watch it 24/7. I know here in the Tampa area, on 4 different occasions in the span of only a few weeks, our TV was ONLY on local channels and the ONLY thing on TV was hurricane coverage. After 9/11, same thing. Presidential election 2000, same story. Presidential election 2004, ditto, just not quite as long. War in Iraq, endless coverage. When is too much not a good thing? I got my answer today, sitting in a waiting room for a seemingly endless amount of time...my little girl made friends with another girl her same age (she just turned 5, my daughter will be 5 in February)...playing, talking, discussing what Santa brought them just a few days ago.... All of a sudden she starts talking about the " 'nado that made the lake come up and put water in the streets and all of the houses were broken".... Luckily, being the 5-ish kids that they are, it was easy to distract them and totally change the subject quickly...but it just goes to show that my kids are affected by world events, even if I'm not watching it 24/7. (Sane? Trying to be, by not over-watching devastating news coverage.)
I realized that being "up" on the latest devastation is absolutely NOT important. I KNOW that thousands upon thousands of people have died, and thousands more will because of the disease and lack of decent water supply. I also realize, from growing up on a farm, that there will be continued devastation for quite some time just due to the fact that plant life cannot grow when there is salt in the soil, so there will be far-reaching future problems because of this too. But I think most importantly, I have "finally" come to realize (thankfully after the hurricanes, and NOT during this current crisis) that to saturate myself in the devastation not only affects me and may cause me to feel empathy and slight depression because of the unfairness of life and all of the innocent victims, but it also affects my kids. Real life, everyday life, is overwhelmingly stressful enough at times. Kids do a great job at coping with problems, crises and changes, but as a parent it is my responsibility to shelter them from the brunt of the overwhelming pain that can be seen on TV when that pain is not necessary for them to experience. I want my kids to be savvy in what's going on in the world, so they can live in it as responsible people. But they don't need to know every little story to be up on current events either.
So I have to say, though my curiosity has been piqued this evening and I've really wanted to "see" what the latest news was, I am glad that I didn't give in and put it on a news channel to keep watching "updates" on every little detail of the story. Some moments I may be shallow in "why" I'm not watching it, other's it's just because I'm weak. But mostly, I think by not watching it I am fighting for the sanity and emotional/mental well-being of not just myself, but also the children that God has given me the responsibility of raising, protecting, caring for and loving!
Oh yeah, I did figure out something I "can" do (since I can't go over there, neither am I wealthy and able to make large financial donations)...I can pray! And I do, I pray that God will put His hand of protection over those who are suffering, and that He will help those of "us" who can assist to know exactly what the right way to help might be. I also pray that the survivors will have peace, and one day again experience the happiness and hope that life can give, that eventually they can move on with their lives and have joy once again.
You can pray too, if nothing else, just pray!
