Well, news is just news. The people who report it can add some flair, give it a zing or two in presentation, or deliver just the facts please in monotone. Still, it is the news. Some of it may be startling or even earth shattering, events and circumstances of momentous occasion. Even the most flamboyant or shocking stuff, however, is still news. It can only be transformed into true drama when it takes a stage more grandiose than the ho-hum broadcasts aired at news time every day. That's where the drama queens and kings come in. You see, they are personally equipped to push buttons, light fires, and transform the news into personal invasions of my home territory. And, they reside beyond the TV screen. These drama mavens drink coffee at the corner Starbucks, sit in the next pew at church, occupy the next cubicle at work, and grimace in the car next to us going to work. Yes, they give a stage to the news. And suddenly it is drama.
Drama is rarely about issues anyway. In most cases it is about self. The news, whether of national or international significance, or more the neighborhood, church, or family life everyday stuff, is secondary to the need for the elevation of self. What motivates and galvanizes the facts and realities of life is the need for recognition. Drama queens and kings need to stand out in the crowd as people of notice. Social media has become the display case of people with analytical skills and thoughts about every subject under the sun. These individuals send up flairs of comment and ideas about even the most mundane topics of the human condition. They promote, advertise, aggravate, inflame, and stir. They bring us grand theatrics!
Cultural, social, religious, special interest, and political drama escalates when the queens and kings join forces. The antics of Antifa, BLM, the KKK, and so many other trouble shooting organizations have been the headline news in many locales recently. Their intent is to draw attention to their cause to garner legislative or public support. Up front that seems noble. I mean, how many such organizations have benefited society---civic clubs, career organizations, educational societies, associations for the betterment of society, alliances for racial harmony, and so many others. These worthy coalitions are often stage struck by the spotlights and the applause. What was a worthy cause morphs into drama, often the tragic kind.
On stage right now is election 2020, less than a week away. The political operatives of both parties know and understand the dynamics of drama. Senator Biden is less of a drama king while President Trump is a master. Even more, their campaign professionals and handlers can turn every political issue into a separate act in this suspenseful drama. I mean, get real. We're watching movies that we really don't like so we can avoid some of the campaign drama during television commercials.
The danger of drama queens and kings in any setting is their skill to incite behaviors in others. They can whip others into a frenzy, stir unrest and dissension, create confusion, and turn the news into drama. Those of us who observe them must be equipped to recognize their goals and resist them. This is especially true of our Christian population. Several verses are guiding me in these next few days of rampaging drama---
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I
went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Psalm 73: 16-17, ESV
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children
of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true and try to
discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5: 8-10, ESV
Yes, Lord, help me develop some discernment so I don't give the news a stage in my life over the next few days.
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