Liba Hopeson, BTC, Pfutsero
THERE was an interesting comment that Maradona became very much popular after he used drugs and was barred from the international football. Some years ago, a man intimated that Zidane (France) became more popular after he was red-carded in a football match in World Cup.In fact, they were good in playing before these incidents, but it could be true in some way that people began to talk more about them thereafter. Today people intentionally create problems to popularize their names and things. In order to make something widely known to the people, certain undesirable things are carried out.
Problems often attract more people than good programmes, events or times. Once, after the State election, one of my friends jokingly said, since the election is over, there is no more problem, so I don’t have interest to read newspapers these days. It’s quite true that people are more eager to read newspapers when there are issues, conflicts, problems, skirmishes and so on. I have seen newspapers being sold out so fast when there were problems or conflicts.
Problematic and tense situations really catch the attention of people easily. If two persons shout at each other and quarrel in the middle of a town, many would turn their face and watch them keenly. They may have other works, but they would not grudge spending time in watching them bicker. It’s indeed a delight and a moment of pleasing experience for many. If a person is beaten in a colony or a town, and some people shout and call the neighbours to come out for protest or revenge, many people would respond and come out quickly. When a stealer or a robber is seen stealing or robbing, and somebody shout thief, thief, many would react immediately and run out to catch them. If they are caught and some suggested that they would shave the culprit’s hair or strip him and walk with him on the street, many would happily follow. If a woman is found raped and the rapist is caught and handed over to the police, but the leaders muster or gather the people to demand the police to give the culprit to them, many would leave their work, how important it might be, and follow the crowd in vicious agitation.
These are some occurring phenomena in our society. We are easily attracted by problems.
But as I see, we are less interested in good things. When good programmes such as seminars, camps, awareness programmes and so on, many people do not take interest. We have seen and heard many times that the number of persons who attended such programmes was very less.
Sometimes, we hear someone saying, it’s discouraging, the speaker might be discouraged too. Once, I saw few persons singing Gospel songs in the heart of Kohima town, but the people didn’t take interest and paid attention. I believe, if they perform magic in that very place; hundreds would come and watch them. I remember one incident in my hometown. One man from another state was performing magic in the middle of the town, and then, some leaders came and attempted to stop the magician. But, interestingly, they (leaders) were reprimanded badly by some people in the crowd who were crazy with the magic. Then some people joined them and thanked them.
If we retrospect our life and compare how big the crowd is in protest and how small the congregation is in some good programmes, we’ll realize that we are more interested in healing and curing works than preventive ministry. Many parents fail to teach the word of God, pray, love, care and bring up their children in a way they should, but when the children are spoiled, they would cry out and do everything they can to change them. They are very good and liberal to their children, but when the children become naughty and disobedient, they become very strict; sadly, in a wrong way many times. This happens in many institutions as well. One proof is the idea of some parents to send their spoiled children to theological institution in order to change them, though their children may not have any commitment to serve the Lord. Yes, most of the people are more interested in healing and curing works than preventive works.
Healing or curing ministry or work is never wrong. It should never be stopped. It’s important in human life. But it is extremely important to know that if we give more effort in preventive works, many unwanted elements which we come across will not take place. Even if it happens in spite of the preventive efforts, healing and curing works will be easier. But how often we take light in good programs, events, and awareness campaigns! We don’t give much interest many a times in such things. Imagine! If a man goes around the streets in Kohima or Dimapur and tell the people to repent, as he is commissioned by God like Jonah to do it, what will people think or say of him? Many will surely say different things about him/her. Attributes such as fool, liar, false prophet, demon possessed person and other negative comments will be given. We are indeed gullible in bad things and adamant in good things. For many of us, problem is like meat or delicious dish, but good programme or campaign is like tasteless vegetable curry. Only when the situation turns bad or unfavorable, many beat their chest, speak remorseful words and cry out. But they are the ones who laugh, neglect and speak contemptuous words before it happens. We should learn to build up our society in a better way with better preventive measures, mechanisms and efforts, though healing and curing works should never be discouraged and ceased. If we have interest in preventive works as we have interest in problems, those interests that we have in problems now will not be, but they will be utilized in good ways.
