Don't Turn Off the TV

   I watched the network news the other night for the first time in a long time. The turmoil across northern Africa, the Middle East and other spots in the world, is truly mind-boggling. From the comfort of my living room chair, it's pretty easy to say, "those people should just go home, stop demonstrating." It isn't easy to understand all the dynamics of all the issues. It's just easier to turn off the TV.
   The world is much smaller today though. We are going to be touched by the violence in northern Africa because of people we know who live and work there. We are going to be watching the situation closely in the country where our children live and work. As it heats up in other places, it affects people everywhere.
    Putting bars on our windows, padlocks on our gates won't protect our hearts... hopefully. May our hearts be open to the brokenness in our world, in the homes on our blocks, in our community, Valley, state, and our own nation. Oh God, help us not to turn off the TV -- but to become emotionally touched by the hurt in our world.