Skip to main content

Finding Entertainment in Others Despair

I started drafting this post back when the news broke about Kim Kardashian ending her marriage after just 51 days or something. I like her. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but when all the news came out about who's fault it was, how expected it was, etc, etc, I got a little defensive. Obviously, none of us know the real truth-who's fault it was, how it happened, and why, but does it really matter? I don't think God cares. I think he's just saddened that another marriage had to be lost. When God created Adam and Eve He didn't present Adam's wife to him with the disclaimer, "Here's a wife to keep you company until things fall apart and the next woman comes along." In the same way, He didn't give Eve the "out" by saying, "Eve, have fun with this one until you see something you think you'd be happier with." No, God ordained marriage as a forever thing. One man, one wife, forever. I think God is truly saddened by each marriage that is lost no matter what the reasons are. 


Our society seems to feed off and find entertainment in others despair, in their trials and failures. TV shows are made, articles and books are written, and sometimes even made-for-TV movies are scripted. All because there is a demand for it. How is it that we can find ourselves entertained by someone else's struggles? The statistics of marriage and divorce in the U.S. is staggering, but it doesn't surprise me when many go about the idea of marriage the wrong way. People critique and criticize couples before they even walk down the aisle. Jokes are made about "how long it will last" before the rings are exchanged. Too many people think they can trade in their spouse when they've had enough like they would trade in a car or buy a new wardrobe.  We've taken God's "forever" design for marriage and turned it into our "for now" model of marriage.


The media feeds off of others despair, especially those who are considered famous. But the only reason any of those in media have a job is because of the high demand for that type of garbage. Just think about Tiger Woods for example. Or Jesse James. Millions of people were watching intently to find out how many women the two of them had cheated on their wives with. It's sad. It's pathetic. But until we stop finding entertainment in others despair, the idea of marriage will continue to be a joke to many.


Two others that come to mind are Lindsay Lohan and Casey Anthony. I can't stand either of them, but I don't read articles and articles about their struggles. I don't sit and watch interviews or news stories about the trouble that surrounds them because it only fuels the fire. People seem to be obsessed with what kind of trouble Lindsay is in at the moment; did she make her court date, what she's wearing, is she on drugs. Why is that entertaining? I'm really annoyed at all the recent talk about video diaries surfacing of Casey Anthony; where she is now, what does she look like, etc. I don't care! Why are people giving this the attention?  


OK. Enough ranting. I just thought that was important. Especially how we've skewed the original idea and intent of marriage into something so temporary and fickle. I guess what I wanted to say about not getting caught up in the "entertainment factor" of other people's trials, errors, and hardships turned more into a marriage post!

Comments

  1. Proverbs 17:5 "..those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished."

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Surprise Birthday Weekend!

Many of you know that I received the BEST surprise this past Friday on my birthday. My mom and husband worked together for weeks planning a surprise trip to Canada. Not only was I surprised, but Olivia and Judah were surprised too! It was the best 4 days I've had in forever. Here's how it went down. Friday, like any other day, I dropped Olivia off at school, and went out to run some errands. Later that afternoon I took Judah with me to the grocery store, and when I got home Scott was already home. He had a few meetings during the day, so I asked him to come home early, so I wasn't surprised to see his car in the garage. However, when I walked into our house he almost ran into me coming out. He seemed shocked to see me, and then had this suspicious look on his face. I didn't think too much of it, and just walked into the house. I was carrying Judah though, and when he got far enough into our laundry room where he could see around the corner, he starting leaning out of...

The Gift of Solitude

I received a phone call this afternoon from my husband. He called to inform me of an appointment I have this Saturday morning. An appointment HE set up for ME. He called to tell me that he scheduled a relaxation massage for me, and following that a manicure. Um..ladies?! Is that not one of the best surprises ever? We're getting down to the final days before we leave for the Southern U.S. for Christmas, and I have a TON to do. Between list-making, cleaning, laundry (which he's done ALL of), and packing, I really have no time to be unmotivated. However, here I am. Procrastinating. I'm the world's best!  Scott knows how stressful the last couple of days before a trip can be for me. So, he decided to make sure to schedule me some time of solitude. I get a spa day, and he takes the kids for the day. THE. BEST. All you moms out there, you know what the gift of solitude is like for you. HEAVEN. It doesn't have to be a spa day, or shopping day, or anything like that at a...

What's Your Confession?

This morning I was scrolling through Facebook...OK, I'm guilty...but an article caught my eye, and though I did not read it, God instantly spoke to me. The article was something about college students dropping out because of their social anxiety. I immediately related..."Maybe I have social anxiety," I thought. My mind went to all the times when I've felt awkward, uncomfortable, and even anxious in a crowd setting. But just like that, it hit me. I felt the Lord say to me, "Of all the things I call you in my Word, anxious , is not one of them." Loved. Chosen. Saved. Child of God. Not once does the Lord call us or label us with those words we have somehow, almost lovingly, welcomed and accepted as a banner for our identity. In fact, all through the Bible He tells us not to fear, be courageous, and be anxious for nothing. My mind raced through all the times, some even recently, that I felt like I was somehow being brave in sharing open-heartedly and trans...