MISDIRECTED SENTIMENTS

It is amazing to me how the death of a celebrity can invoke so much attention and outpouring of love and emotion.  Most of us don’t know these people personally, and yet we act and feel as if we do.  Why is that?

It is not that I begrudge the outpouring of sentiment at the death of Robin Williams; I feel great sadness at his death, especially because it was death by suicide.  But do we feel that level of sentiment towards our neighbors or people we pass by in the streets that we would morn their death and begin battle cries for more attention to depression or mental instability that would cause one to take their own life?  Do we take the time to pay attention and listen to them, or help them out if we can?

I wonder about misdirected sentiment sometimes.  I see people who treat their pets better than they treat the people around them.  I see such concern for saving animals and such ignorance about saving the lives of babies in their mother’s wombs.  I see people totally involved in issues of folks in other parts of the world but have no clue about the elderly or handicapped person that lives next door to them. 

Robin Williams had it all; all except hope and joy in his life.  People who commit suicide have lost all hope; all connection to true meaning in life.  I know how that feels.  I also know I would not be here if I were not a believer in the Giver of hope and the Giver of True meaning in life.  This earthly life is difficult and without God it is impossible.

I did not know Robin Williams personally.  But I know myself.  I know that if I did not have God in my life I would have checked out a long time ago.  When I was at my lowest people told me about God and that He loved me; they told me about Jesus, who was Life himself, and gave of himself abundantly.  Where are those voices now?  I don’t hear them much anymore.  The churches are too busy arguing among themselves; too busy trying to keep their buildings and their programs going; too busy for the purposes of God in this and every generation.  The number one purpose being loving and attending to one another, all one anothers, especially the ones closest to us, in our homes and in our neighborhoods.