Good Morning, I am back in the United States. I have my second cup of coffee. Today is the day after the US presidential election. It appears that God and the voters have denied the office to Mrs. Clinton and opened the way for Mr. Trump. If a glance at FaceBook is to be believed some people are delighted by the results some are appalled by them. But from the perspective of future historians it is likely that the who won and who lost the election will not be the most important aspects of this election. Other aspects will have very long term consequences. For example, on a world wide basis people have learned that the news media are inherently untrustworthy. On a national basis people have learned that when a candidate does not follow the usual approach to getting a win then the usual experts are likely to be surprised by the result. As a society we learned that the social media of the internet are extremely powerful both for changing peoples opinions and for spreading lies.
In our lives as followers of Jesus we need to grasp the parallel concept. The results of a particular event are often of less eternal significance than the process that we have gone through to get to that result. I remember a time when as a family of 7 with all the usual expenses involved in living in a middle class suburb of Washington, DC, we passed through almost 4 months with less income than the cost of our electric bill. When we faced a crisis near the end of that period we received the money we needed. However, the money was the least important result. The most important result was that Holy Spirit showed me the true meaning of Jesus’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Often we find ourselves focused on ourselves and what is happening to us. It helps us regain perspective when we simple change the questions we are asking. Stop asking, “Why is this happening to me ?” Stop asking, “What did I do wrong ?” Instead ask Holy Spirit,
“God, what do you want me to learn from this experience ?”
His, thus Yours,
Stuart
His-Family 
Ha! I am mostly upset about the current state of affairs be a use I am thinking of others and not myself!
As for what HS wants me to learn…I already know that! My problem comes with wanting to teach it to everyone else 😉
LikeLike
“[I]nherently untrustworthymedia” is an overreach. While there is often a bias-like mindset that is i n the newsroom atmosphere, and it can be contagious, good journalists are well aware of attempts to use and manipulate on the part of newsmakers and their spin masters. Thus, the need to be inquisitive, even challenging; able to point out nconsistencies. This should not always be interpreted as hostility or bias. Also, keep in mind that “media” includes writers for Christian journals and media outlets who, arguably, approach events and newsmakers with their own bias.
Also, events forthrightly reported today in the context of the present may be reportedly differently but also forthrightly tomorrow in the context of tomorrow’s circumstances.
Lastly, bias is not the sole domain of journalists. The same degree of bias can also be present in the. Indy and eyes of hearers and readers.
Know the truth and live free in it. And, to know the truth use a fixed plumb line ( i. e., God’s Word) and an always discerning eye (the indwelling Holy Spirit).
LikeLike
Yes, process is always more important than outcome.
LikeLike