What do you fill your mind with?

TV, media rubbish

After doing things related to Chaplaincy, Church or Night Shelter affairs during the day, I settle down to blob out in front of TV. We look at the TV programs and despair. 
We often watch a current affairs program called "Story" on TV3.  I remember insightful journalism, asking really hard questions, exploring at a reasonable depth the issues. But sadly not in recent times. There are short bursts on various subjects, thankfully good news along with the bad news. But it is inanely superficial! An example - they were exploring the fact that in Pre-schools now, because of well publicised alleged sexual misbehaviour, the number of men entering the teaching profession at this level, and indeed in early childhood education has decreased dramatically. They are saying that young children are missing out on male role models and men's perspectives. After the item the two front people discussed it. The woman, whose superficiality irritates me often, commented, "Young men should go in for that career. There is nothing more attractive to women than a man who is good with children!" That might be true but imagine a guy saying, "I think I'll be a preschool teacher - I can pull more chicks then!" What a weak, superficial reason for choosing a career! What a weird perspective? Journalism these days seems to be that superficial! After that we decide what to watch and if we watch anything. Here is a list of potential shows...

• There are real life police shows. We can watch police pull over dangerous or drunken drivers and argue with them as they give them a ticket. Or we can watch police wander around the pub scene in an Australian town, picking up drunk uncooperative people, women acting in slutty ways and doing stupid, sometimes violent things. Or we could watch them delving into the wicked drug scene. These things are used as entertainment.
• Then there is the Bachelor program. There is a group of women who vie for the love of a bachelor. They all go on dates with him. They have various adventures with him and one by one he eliminates them until he chooses one to be the love of his life. The women get catty with one another and throw themselves all over the guy. They act and dress super provocatively.  This program takes an important natural phase of life, and makes a sickening competition of it. It brings out the lowest of behaviours in people.  
• Then there is the "Married at first sight." This too is about marriage. People are matched with strangers and are married, then the show follows how they get on after their rushed wedding. Again what a sick perspective on life! Fancy figuring making an entertainment program that cheapens marriage in this way? It is a sick!
• Then there is the program about hoarders. We are taken into the houses of people who have a hoarding addiction and we follow their struggles and fights and sorrows. I have the deepest sympathy for people in that predicament. I have known a few, and indeed I suspect some would say I hoard a little bit more than I should.  But why make an entertainment program about it? Why do we have this voyeuristic longing to watch people's misery? 
• OR I go to the Doctor's waiting room and look about for something to read. There are all these women's magazines with stories of failed marriages; dress clangers of the rich and famous; who is dating who; who looks fatter than she/he ought to look; what nasty embarrassing situation the film stars and celebrities have been photographed in; what drama and rumours we could possibly look forward to in the Royals' lives; etc. Once again in the name of entertainment, the basest activities of the human mind and actions are highlighted and paraded as entertainment.

I could go on, but you get the picture.  We could mention the crap that titillates people on facebook but we won't start that.  I give up and don't watch much TV. Thankfully there are some good pleasant shows on some nights.  I think the world does not need these distortions. I think they do damage. They create people who think the entertainment and superficiality that the likes of Donald Trump provides is OK potential presidential behaviour, God help us! The Apostle Paul wrote, "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." That is pretty good advice. The world will be better if we paid heed to that! While there are some inspiring TV programs and magazines, the world would be a much better place if there were a lot more in today's media.

A Room full of lovely people.

I went to a function last night which was the complete opposite of this, although I questioned some aspects. Trustpower, a power company in NZ runs annual competitions to select the best, creative caring community groups. There are various categories, Health and Wellbeing, Culture, Leisure and recreation, etc. It highlights the voluntary efforts in the community. Last night they had their regional awards. I arrived and got a glass of wine and mingled with some familiar faces. The room was filled with people who volunteered and went the extra mile in their community, representing various groups. It never ceases to amaze me what people do. In my ministry and community involvement, I have encountered a few bad eggs, but here was a big room full of responsible, giving people. Medical people who run a free medical centre. People who care for victims of family violence. People who have a concern for the terrible suicide rate. Trampers who voluntarily clear and care for tracks in the bush so that people like me can go walking. A group who run a centre where native flora and fauna are protected and fostered. There were over 200 people there and each pair represented many other supporters and volunteers. It was a great encouragement to see and mingle with these people. We sat for the formal proceedings. Youth volunteers were highlighted and received awards. Then the various categories were announced. First the runners up, then the regional winner in each category. The Night Shelter Trust was regional winner for the Health and Wellbeing category.  I had to go forward and receive the award and say something. The Mayor, who I have come to know more, seemed thrilled to present it to me and said, "Well done!" There seemed to be a warm expression of general support for our winning the award. But whether a group "won" an award or not, all these people, and all the people they represent deserve recognition. They are focused on the "honourable, the just, the pure, the commendable, the excellent and those things worthy of praise." They express these things in their lifestyle. I salute them and thank them for their important role in our community. My hesitation is that why again, do we have to make a competition out of it? Can't we just recognise the effort without saying "they won the award and you did not"? They are all winners. But I am proud that we were recognised. It has been a long journey to get to where we are at with our night shelter.

Beyond comfort zone times three.

We have community paper called "The Star".  For two weeks in a row I had my photo in it. (once on the front cover) Then I had a letter published in the Otago Daily Times. One related to the fact that we did the Christmas Dinner for 25 years, the others were Night Shelter related. Whenever I went into a chaplaincy people passed comments like, "Sick of seeing your face in my paper Father Ted!" (I think it will be in the Star next week too - but don't tell anyone!)  One comment started out quite positive. A paramedic said something like, "You know how Richie McCaw is the face of rugby? - well, for Dunedin you are the face of caring for the poor. It's good. People will look at it and know you are caring again." Then he added, "They will also say - there's that guy who does things for nothing.  What else can we get him to do?" 
On Tuesday one of my mates on the Night Shelter Trust and I had a fifty five minute dialogue session on the radio with a guy who runs a program called "Community or Chaos". I found it fun. A month or so ago three of us were part of a documentary about the Night Shelter on the local TV station. Again I enjoyed the participation. 
If somebody had told me as a boy at school that within the space of a few weeks I would feature on TV, Radio and newspaper, I would have laughed at them. I was a very shy boy/teenager and withdrew from up front stuff. I still am that shy teenager, but now compelled by an inner pull to reach beyond me.

This morning I prepared power point slides for the Church service I am running on Sunday. I took the sound system and computer around to the Church and tried out the technology. ... now I am unhappy with the sermon I have prepared... and a little nervous about Sunday. I have run church services for 40 years, but now I am out of practice and again out of my comfort zone. What a strange journey life is!

Another feature of my work as Chairman of the Night shelter is I am the one who negotiates and deals with staff employment issues. I have spent a life time working by myself with volunteers. Now I find myself an employer... and it too is a bit out of my comfort zone. I am likely sometimes to be too soft. But at other times, when pushed, I could say and do things that break employment law. Again, what a strange journey life is. 

Mad media pressure... Labour Party please dream again.

Readers will be pleased to know that the NZ elections are over and my political diatribes will cease. I am deeply disappointed with the result, the Labour party were soundly defeated by their worst defeat since 1922... although that is unfair because we have a different system now.  I semi expected a defeat of the left (the polls predicted it - though not the size of the defeat) but I was surprised at the impact it had on me. Depression hit for a few days. Three more political things I want to say.

A million Non-voters

Apparently something like one million eligible people did not vote on the day. That is one million out of 3,140,417 eligible voters. Virtually a third of New Zealanders were not motivated enough to vote! That is pathetic! Having wandered around parts of the UK enjoying the history lessons, I know that the right to vote, our democracy, was not something easily won. People gave their lives, argued and faced all sorts of opposition over the centuries to enable us to vote. What is wrong that we don't vote? Is it understandable cynicism about the whole process and system? Didn't the Parties engender enough interest? Is life too easy? Are the issues not understood? Are we too individualistic to feel any responsibility to the whole?  It is a sad reflection on our understanding of citizenship. 

Please dream again Labour party...

The Labour party needs to look again at its reason for existing. In my career as a minister I have often been frustrated by Churches who feel they have a right to exist, even though they have no real purpose. Organisations can just drift on without knowing who they are. Labour needs to regroup and think about who they want to be and what they want to offer to New Zealand. It is not just a matter of trying to think of how to survive, but asking what right do we have in surviving? What purpose is there for our existence? I think the National Party has more purpose about it, though I disagree with its purpose and direction. I share a quote - "Thomas Jefferson once hoped aloud that America would have a revolution every twenty years. Jefferson wasn't advocating overthrow of the government. He envisioned no battles, no new flags, or any prisoners of war. Jefferson wanted a redefining of America for every new generation. No church (or organisation) is healthy without a defined ... dream. Congregations (organisations) either redefine their basic purpose every generation or they die. The road to health is to dream again." ("To Dream Again" Robert Dale) Please Labour Party, take the next month or so, or even longer, to dream again. Otherwise you deserve to die.

Media pressure..

I have become increasingly annoyed with the media. They blatantly put their slant on things. They put words into peoples' mouths - somebody hesitates in an answer, because (duh) they are thinking carefully, and the media reads all sorts of things into that hesitation. They also put pressure to make things happen.  I am annoyed that the media are forcing the Labour party into a hasty leadership battle. Back off! The Party needs to do solid thinking, and then choose a leader to suit their purpose. Let them think! Leave them alone. The media has too much power amongst us! Treat them with caution and a good deal of cynicism. Do not let them set the agenda! (Mind you, I was disappointed that David Cunliffe, the party leader seemed to want to pressure the Party into a quick leadership battle. I suppose in an attempt to save his skin... that, in my view, showed bad leadership.) 

I promise my next post will not be political! 

Powerful people.

I am currently Workplace Support chaplain to Allied Press in Dunedin. They produce the Otago Daily Times, the Star Community paper, various other community papers and have a TV Station linked to them. I met the "top man" in the corner office today. As I talked to him briefly I thought that this man is POWERFUL!

I was talking to another man from another country where there is unrest recently. We were talking about elections, democracy and such things. He is a very clever University graduate and he talked about the wide range in the population of his country. There were rich people, successful corporations and universities. But then there was a large part of the population who were subsistence farmers, fishermen, or very poor people living in very basic conditions. He pointed out that for democracy to work properly, these people, often relatively poorly educated, had to some how become aware of the issues. He said it depended very much on who was informing them.

As I talked to this Media big wig today and as I see the reporters, sub-editors and others doing their job, I recognise that they have a very important part to play in our society. They inform us. Their slant on things can have an incredible impact. The things they report about and the things they leave out can set the tone of our society. They can make or break elections. Professor Andrew Bradstock in his inaugural lecture on Public Theology commented how in New Zealand there is not much very serious public debate about the big issues that face our society. TV tends more to entertain in short sound bites rather than delve deeply into issues. There are few magazines or newspapers (though he thought the local paper was an exception) that really explore deeply the topics they discuss. He felt this was a serious limitation in our national life. Some reporters have told me of the word limits for articles. I realise how difficult and frustrating it must be for them to give full and serious treatment to the issues they write about with relatively small word allowances. I guess too, those limitations are governed by what we, the public are prepared to read and pay for. It is a vicious circle.

Anyway, if you believe in prayer, pray for our media people. They have a big responsibility and are in very powerful positions in our society. I hope they realise their importance and their awesome responsibility.