Not For Keeps

2 Kings 7:9a

Then they said to each other, ‘We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.’

I was washing the dishes yesterday when suddenly Tris rushed out of the room and blurted ‘I can’t take it!’ He was referring to Yue Yue, the two and a half year old girl from China who was hit and run over by two vans while eighteen passersby never seem to mind. It was heartless and distressing. And so were the rest of the headlines last night: nineteen soldiers dead in Basilan encounter; two minors suffered gang rape in Bulacan; ex-president accused of electoral sabotage; add to that leptospirosis, flooding, and motorcycle accidents. And our breathers? Gay news, loveteams and an awards night. No, we don’t discredit their inclusion of charity works, safety info, taxi heroes and sports champs. But in totality, hearing news today will leave you anxious, doubtful and angry.  Shown several times a day, seven days a week, it can really make one weak :<

News in Samaria had the same depressing headlines back then: timeframe of the siege had reached the phrase ‘so long’; many already died in famine; parents cooking their babies; a lot resorted to eating the ceremonially-unclean donkeys, even the doves’ dung; all market is closed; and the king ordered the prophet Elisha’s beheading. When you’re hunger-stricken and all you see are horrifying scenes, hopelessness is next in line. Worse for the four lepers at the city gates. If the people were already eating waste, nothing’s left for them.  No wonder they took the risk of surrendering to enemy lines. They felt dead anyway. When they reached the Aramean camp, they found it empty with men but overflowing with supplies. They did what we all would: have a fill, plunder the goods and keep it safe. But after two rounds, these deprived and considered-outcasts felt it in their conscience to share the good news to the city. Fear of punishment was an admitted factor too. So they went and called out to the city gates for reporting. They were out of the picture since then. It was just a minute snapshot of a good thing, but it brought in hope and redemption to the city.

Everyday, we have the opportunity to answer the question: ‘What’s on your mind?’. We meet people asking us, texting us how we are. What’s our reply? Sadly, more often than always, our shared stories are more sorrowful than joyful. We complain about something, point a blame on someone, air a sigh or raise a brow. Was God absent yesterday? Was He not able to perform at least one good thing for us to be very happy about? Really, nothing praiseworthy? If it’s not the case, then why are we a people with no good news to share? Are we afraid that when we rejoice over God’s provision, many will knock at our doors? Or when we raise a cheer for our family’s success or got promoted at work, it will even cause envy and buzzing around? More importantly, how come we’re not vocal about Jesus? He paid for our sins and died in our stead. Isn’t being forgiven and free enough headliner? How about the great news that He rose from the grave as proof that eternal life is true? Isn’t hope the answer to all the bad news before us? We had our fill and we experience much grace, it’s not for keeps. One snapshot of hope could mean second wind to the weary and life for a suicidal.  Ready to post? Cameras rolling…