Dear All of Us,
I'm in recovery.
My addiction lasted
seventy five years -
from age six
to just this Spring.
It started in 1946
with my first radio.
I was hooked.
I became a
Broadcast News
Addict.
Early on it was
the sonorous tones of
H.V. Kaltenborn
reporting the news
on NBC Radio.
There was
Lowell Thomas
on CBS Radio
signing off with
the likes of
"So long for now
from Kathmandu."
As a seven year old in
Battle Creek, Michigan,
I'd regularly stop in
at the two radio stations
downtown as the
news and weather
were being broadcast.
I was out of my mind crazy
when once the announcer
on the other side
of the glass wall said,
"We have a cute
little redhead visiting us
here in the studio
this afternoon."
i didn't wash my right hand
for ten years after shaking hands
with the CBS sage, Eric Sevareid.
As a young adult I bumped into
Walter Cronkite at the A&P
in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard.
I forced myself to refrain from
asking him to autograph my bag of flour.
On and on right up to
Judy Woodruff and the
PBS News Hour.
The nightly news was
a sacrosanct must.
Things had to fit in around it.
News Specials outflanked
all but Sunday Church.
Broadcast News Addict
for sure.
Could never get enough.
Enough with "enough."
I recently realized
( more than a
slow learner here )
I was getting
too much that was being talked about
too much that just wasn't all that
much good,
much less
much good news
in the first place.
In others words:
Too much of not too much!
These days I check
The Washington Post online,
read a few select articles,
but don't give it
obsessive time
or attention -
want to be informed
but not fixated.
Old age has forced me
to realize I need
to be judicious
about where I invest
attention and time.
What does claim my
attention and time
these days is a major flip
for me of news reporting.
These days I encourage
us all to be
broadcasters,
announcing news of
a wonderfully fresh
and hopeful sort.
It's called
Evangelion,
Good News,
Gospel
What a lift in
a down time.
How encouraging
to hear and see
so many being the
medium and message
of the real and positive
as they broadcast
The Good News
Mostly they do it
by their life style,
their living love
in simple,
everyday ways.
They are honest,
hope filled,
generous, caring,
sharing and creative.
They live the life of Jesus.
They are "networked" as
WTL Radio
Followers
of
THE WAY
THE TRUTH
THE LIFE
In the midst of
today's deadly
Evil Empire
spinning us
to destruction,
they stabilize.
They are beautifully alive
and enlivening.
They right things
in the midst of wrong.
They live the
Love Who Is God,
personally and practically.
Their "live" broadcasts
gives clear channel to
The Good News
of
Jesus.
They do this in
their own frequencies,
right where they are,
just as they are.
They are partners and parents,
warehouse workers, neighbors,
artisans, investors, teachers,
farmers, bus drivers, retirees,
technicians, shop keepers,
school board members...
- all living
God Love
really, personally and locally.
Simple example.
The other day I struggled
to get off the bus
with my little shopping cart.
It was filled to the brim
(had a couple bottles
of wine in there)
and was it ever heavy.
Trying to exit I realized that
the gap between the bus
and the curb was such that
in no way could
I navigate that stretch.
I was stuck and
the bus driver was getting antsy.
A black man and a white man
at the bus stop took over.
They reached in,
took my cart over the gap
with smiles and good cheer.
In a city with
sadly significant
racial tension,
that outreach
and united effort
sure was
Good News
Those men and
so many more
are out here on
the street of
everyday life.
They are and
are casting broadly
The Good News Live.
They are you!
Wonderful
Thank You!
Your broadcast partner
John Frank
******
A PERSONAL POSTSCRIPT
The above posting was written
a few weeks ago before last week's
"A Week from Hell"
So glad it was in the queue.
This past week was less hellish -
"A Week in Purgatory"
Can't wait for
"A Week in Paradise"
My family and I thank
so many of you
who offered
so much support.
You are dear and
we are grateful.
******
