The last post title may have sounded like an attention-grabbing headline. In fact, it wasn't a title at all, it was merely the first sentence of the posting, which became the title when I neglected to choose something else. Please shoot me if I start sounding like the Enquirer.
A dear friend, who has experience with the subject of PTSD and military men, has commented that he is in a hunkered-down mode someone with his training and experience will appropriaptely take on after an event such as the landing on the Hudson. I'll grant her some of that. But after 25+ years of experience of my own related to PTSD, I still consider his flat affect and voice as red flags. I still consider the events of that day beyond the realm of human endurance, and feel he needs a chance to recover no matter how much preparation he had before. I believe my friend agrees.
We live in a society that is addicted to the sensational, the lurid, the outrageous. The heroic act of Captain Sullenberger captured our hearts as a refreshment to our better selves. But we may have "fed" on him, only to move on to the CraigsList killer. What does this say about us?
Many of us have turned off the 24-hour news machine, rather than let it fill us with more darkness about Swine Flu, puppy mills, murder, mayhem, and all the rest. Certainly, I am still up-to-date about recycling and washing my hands enough times a day to satisfy any compulsive, so my Swine Flu risk is minimal. Yes, I find out the news through NPR, newspaper, and enough of TV to tell me what's going on.
But I have mostly stopped letting it pull me into the vortex of gloom. Especially with May Sweeps coming. Prepare for headlines like, "Is your house killing you?" "New dangers in your child's classroom!" "Can you trust the hamburger you ate at lunch? Film at 11!"
It's just too exhausting to keep up--or down with--the media.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anyhing is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things...And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8,9
11 years ago
Wow! What a powerful blog. Amen! That's all I have to say about that. But, seriously. I hear what you're saying and cannot agree more. I've found myself avoiding the news lately and trying to get lost in the Lord and only in Him. Thank you for expressing what I've felt. We're in a world of vultures picking at dead bones (not just live ones). Poor Sully. I'm sure feels that way, along with Catpain Phillips. Phil. 4:8-9 is perfect in these heavy times. There's rest found there.
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