What we perceive is not always what is. Messages in the form of pictures, words, sounds, and vibrations are targeted at us each day via people, television, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Some of the information is impressive enough to compel and evoke us to make assumptions, pass judgments, and draw conclusions. Other sensational messages even provoke weak and wicked souls to violence, racial division, and hatred.
The media coverage of news, world events, and issues does affect public and private opinions. As I reminisce about my study of “cameras in the courtrooms” as a journalism student years ago before TV cameras were allowed into hearings and trials, I can see now why I was suspect of it. Now there are channels dedicated covering trials. TV coverage of the O.J. Simpson murder trial was extreme to say the least. Hurting people in this real-life crisis were treated like actors in a continuous saga. Innocent or guilty, can defendants get a fair trial with so too media coverage?
Finally, the reading of the not guilty verdict caused all kinds of reactions. The media said a majority of Blacks were happy about the verdict, while a majority of Whites were unhappy. Well, what did they expect? America has a shameful history of legal slavery, Jim Crow laws, discrimination, and racism that has perpetuated ongoing divisions and distractions to deceive people from completing their higher missions.
The race of a person should not matter when it comes to justice or any other factor in life. In fact, race diversity is one of God’s gifts to humanity, offering variety and beauty. Each race has special gifts to help all humanity. We all should feel good about who we are and the race we were born into. However, if we listen to popular rhetoric, inferiority and superiority complexes will invade us.
To cleanse ourselves from deception on all levels, we must erase all of our perceptions and preconceived ideas, then prayerfully begin our ingestion of information (scriptures first) with a clear and open mind and a willing spirit.
Optical illusions look so real. Yet, when the viewing angle on an object is altered or the object is moved, a whole new picture is seen. But why didn’t we see it in the first place? Human beings will one day see the real picture of their lives, purposes, and destinies, asking this same baffling question – “why didn’t we see it in the first place? However, we have the power to refuse a destiny of regret.
To live life effectively and purposefully, fulfilling our higher mission — to glorify our Maker and return to Him — we must have a clean heart created and a right spirit renewed within us. This can only be done through our Creator with our cooperation.
“Judge not that ye be not judged.”- Matthew 7:1
Ella Coleman