Second hand news

Many years ago, I worked at a public radio station. Since we were a smallish outlet with barebones funding, we wore different hats. On air staff produced other shows. We were all responsible for sales and content. One of the things I learned about the news is if it bleeds, it leads. You focus on the bad stuff up front, because due to schadenfreude, we all like hearing bad stuff happening to other people. Despite knowing this, I've become a news junkie.

I also know that the 24 hour news cycle is wrecking havoc on my life. The news is actually causing anxiety and stress.

Ebola.

Isis.

The economy.

You rarely hear anything good that happens in the world. 

I've decided that enough was enough. 

In the Gospels (which means good news), we are commanded to:

Mark 16:15 ESV 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

I don't think that it includes sharing the nitty gritty at the top of every hour, 24hrs/365. 

I needed to break my addiction. 

I made a few changes. I limit my news fix to the NPR One app that I cast to the tv in the morning. I check weather on an app. I love reading the good news page (http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org) which makes my spirit happier than when I was reading other websites.

Not watching the news channels doesn't make me dumber or less informed. I am more discerning about what I am allowing into my life and home.