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Is it that news is all bad or is the good news – the shining moments – hidden from view?
We read and hear about bridges collapsing, local and national government corruption or the scent of it, lives ending dramatically and too soon, August heat, fires, floods – well, most of us know the list is endless.
I know many of my friends and family tire of reading and watching news which seems slanted toward disaster and hyped dramas.
Many of us crumple the newspapers and magazines in disgust and talk to the newscasters as if they can hear us and end up turning the television off.
Life continues on as we read about and see disaster looming.
I'm not naive – the world is full of danger and disheartening stories. When I was a reporter, I was required to cover local government meetings, police reports and hometown events.
My eyes were opened to realities I didn't know existed on the local level. Often I thought problems began "at the top." The foundation of our country, beginning on the small town level, needs to be strong and unsoiled for the "top" to be sturdy.
As time passed as a reporter, I gravitated to the stories of neighborhood people who were living sincere lives in spite of city woes and world-wide disaster.
These people I met, and still meet today, live what they believe and spend time passing on the qualities of life they feel make the world a better place to live.
Recently, a small sparrow zoomed into our patio door with a thud I heard in the next room. I found the bird lying belly up on the door step and carefully opened the door to inspect.
I scooped the bird into the palm of my hand and sat down in a nearby chair.
The bird's eyes were open and moving. He was so light and soft – downy describes how it felt in my hand – and I gently stroked its small head while talking to it.
He let me move his legs and he blinked his eyes as I talked. Obviously, the bird was stunned by the conk on its head and would revive soon.
I took a drop of water from our dog's water dish and dropped it on the beak. The still body shook, turned over and took flight. He would survive and join the other birds.
The song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow" (and I know He watches me), ran in my head. I know God watches over us but this song became real in a moment.
This is small news. A few moments in the life of one person. But to me it was good news.
It brightened my day and I could feel the fluff of the bird's feathers in my palm for a long time that day and once again as I write about the moment he lay in my hand.
Life is fragile. In a moment we could be somewhere where the earth or manmade object collapses underneath us. I'm not being fatalistic but realistic. Not one of us knows the number of days we will be on this earth.
Just like the small bird, we ram our heads into objects, real or surreal, every day trying to get ahead, make a living, pay the bills, clean the house, shop for food, raise our children, keep or improve our health – whatever takes up each of our 24-hour daytime spans.
We could sure use a lift now and again by someone who is willing to hold our persona long enough that we can revive, gain our senses and go our way in the world.
We could sure use more good news to balance out the negativity in the world.
Maybe the store clerk who has been on his or her feet all day could use a smile or a word of appreciation.
Or the driver who lets us into the flow of traffic could use a wave and a smile of thanks. When our family returns home today, a hug and "I'm glad you're home" or "I missed you" would help his or her evening be lighter.
A few words, a smile, a hug or somehow letting another person know they matter in your life will make the bad news bearable one more day.
And just maybe, if the foundation of the small places is positive and sturdy, the larger picture will grow brighter. One person at a time.
Look for the moments. They exist and are as soft as that small bird was in my hand.
Liz Thompson is a freelance writer and former SNP reporter who lives in Grove City with her husband, Bob.
Printed in Suburban News Publications
8-29-07
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