Things overwhelming? Not to God ...

The nation’s psyche is becoming more and more sensationally bombarded and as result we are increasingly unable to absorb the horrors and tragedies since September 11, 2001. For example, if we were to review news coverage of events, speeches, meetings in connection with 9/11, we would probably conclude that the average American had a pretty good idea of those days.

However, in recent days the news media admitted they were woefully unable to wrap their arms around hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma and the stories blown ashore. They were consistently unable to show even with wide-angle lenses, the horrific devastation of recent hurricanes. Many admitted just so.

Go around the world in any 80 day period and you will be aghast of the human devastation, economic losses, and ecological changes. You will discover that what we get 24 hours a day from fair and balanced and other media is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of human misery caused by cataclysmic events – both natural and man-inspired.

I’ve heard people talk that they just can’t stand any more talk about the hurricanes and earthquakes. Their monthly quota of tragedy is filled only in the first few days. Yet, the media keep pouring it on. Not only will our news programs be filled with such, but now they are airing movies inspired by the hellish events.

What are we to make of the natural disasters and the queues of suicide bombers almost in every country?

Is this the end? If it is the beginning of the end, it certainly is worthy of the end of a great story. Governmental officials are counting 79,000 dead in the Pakistani earthquake. The numbers of American dead in recent events pales in comparison to 79,000. Our most recent huge statistic comes from Vietnam where about 58,000 soldiers died fighting that war. Their average age was 24. The War Between the States took 620,000 young American lives. Their average age was perhaps even younger.

Yet the Dec. 24, 2005 tsunami that struck worldwide tolled 170,000 dead and another 114,000 missing. You see folks, war may take its toll, but these natural calamities can take out hundreds of thousands in a matter of minutes or hours and how do you get your mind and arms around something that enormous?

How do you comprehend a nuclear disaster in Atlanta, Georgia with Interstates 85, 75, 20 clogged with motorists trying to get out of harm’s way? Desperate people could be streaming into Fayetteville and Peachtree City seeking refuge, perhaps with a gun. The scenarios are beyond comprehension.

I know of no better reason that now is a time for a great turning to God. Why wait until after the horror? Turn now when there is a chance for a rational decision rather than one based upon emotional survival.

The media has done us a favor in its admission that recent stories are just too big for them.

Good news, not too big for God!