One piece of criticism that resonated with me especially wasn't criticism of Invisible Children (who produced the video and its campaign), but it was a criticism of us.
TMS Ruge lamented on a blog for CNN about our narrow capacity to care about others beyond ourselves:
"What does it say about our capacity to care when we are barely moved by video shot on shaky cellphone cameras of innocent people being slaughtered, but we suddenly get a collective conscious because of a slick Hollywood production documenting a 25-year-old issue on the decline.
More children die of malaria, diarrhea, and nodding disease in northern Uganda on a daily basis than the monthly average of Kony's 25 years of killing. Where's the slick viral video for those children?"
Compassion fatigue is not a new concept. In fact, it is at least as old as the scriptures. Perhaps as old as sin, and as present as our flesh.
Jesus reminds us that the eternal weight in His kingdom is on the vulnerable and the broken.
Compassion fatigue is not a new concept. In fact, it is at least as old as the scriptures. Perhaps as old as sin, and as present as our flesh.
Jesus reminds us that the eternal weight in His kingdom is on the vulnerable and the broken.
when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, jyou did not do it to me.’...
Matthew 25:44-45
Lord, may we look for opportunities to feed you, clothe you, or help you when you are in a distressing disguise----even when we haven't been prompted by a slick video......Amen.
