These past few weeks has shown me a trend that I find to be quite troubling and very disheartening. It’s the idea that we would take others pain as entertainment. I’ll concede that those who are being ridiculed are in the spotlight however they are still human, made of flesh and blood, and most importantly, God’s children.
Call it a pet peeve but I never understood how “we” could find ourselves to be so comfortable to laugh at the misery of others. What would it look like if the mirrors were turned and we were forced to share our stories, fears and shortcomings with the world? Would we want so much input on our marriages, our mental health, or our state of depression?
We are still in the midst of 2 pandemics. Between the virus and racial uprisings, we are emotionally and psychologically drained and trying to understand what comes next. If you are in the line of fire, you are super raw right now. Another shut-in seems almost inevitable and they want our kids to go back to school in this mess. But I digress… back to the subject at hand.
Of course, like with everything, there is a debate here when you are dealing with public figures. By definition, their lives are on display for all to see. My issue, is what is going on inside of us that we laugh at their pain as if they are going through things completely not relatable? Have we lost all compassion to understand that they may be crying, thinking suicidal thoughts or falling into deep depressions? The feelings of isolation and separation are sometimes more magnified because of the “celebrity” and the inability to trust those around you so your support group is smaller than the average person.
Money doesn’t equate happiness. It solves tangible day to day problems but not matters of the heart. We have got it all twisted. In our quest for the almighty dollar, the level of envy for those of them who have it, we place an unnecessary burden of unconscious bias, willing to knock them down a peg or two so that they become more “like us” when we hear stories of how messed up they are. Newsflash, they will always be like us when real life happens.
Success is not measured with how much money you have. Think of all the public figures who have left this world due to drug overdoses, suicides, murders, tragic accidents and so on. Some of them you may have liked and some may have lived with public hecklings day after day. My point is don’t get caught up in the mob mentality of kicking people when they are down just because it is the fun thing to do that day.
Prayer works and we all need it. Have compassion for your neighbors, those known and unknown. You never know when you may need it. It will be no laughing matter if tragedy rings your doorbell and someone tells someone else and they make jokes about it. You would be mad, naturally.
“You know my name, not my story. You’ve heard what I’ve done, not what I’ve been through”. – Author Unknown
Have a Safe a Blessed Weekend!
