The Whole Truth

Is anyone else getting weary of the Anna Nicole Smith news coverage? It's tabloid fodder and I have to confess to having had an interest in it at first. It felt something like the interest I had in Princess Diana's death. Only there is somehow a profound difference between the two stories. With Princess Diana, one had a sense that we were part of history in the making. You knew that school children would learn about this one day --- and you'd be able to say you were there. Will school children learn about Anna Nicole any day? Lord, I hope not!

But the news continues. Even my old stalwart, Nancy Grace on CNN has given in to the Anna Nicole craze and prostituted her show for ratings. What was it about Anna Nicole, and what is it about her story that would make sane, rational, credible people stoop to such low levels of journalism? Is it greed? Fear --- of being left behind? Is there anyone who really cares about Anna Nicole Smith? Or is the world just full of people who want to make a buck off of her?

Then too are the blogs and on-line memorials that millions upon millions of people from around the world are posting the most sappy stuff on. They pine away about how wonderful Anna Nicole was. Some have called her a role model. Some have said even more ridiculous things about her. So I guess there is a group of people ... actually a rather large group, for whom Anna Nicole talk isn't just about money and ratings. These people are very sadly deceived. But who deceived them? Was it Anna Nicole? The news media? No, I think they themselves are mostly responsible for the deceit.

In our world of instant gratification and physical pleasure, we are all humanly drawn to that which looks good, is entertaining, makes us feel good, etc. Studies have been done about how even small children favor good-looking people. Somehow, people who look good, people who have a lot of money, and others are more attractive, more favorable to us than the average person on the street. In many cases, they are even more attractive to us than we are to ourselves!

This is that human element that defies explanation by even the most advanced shrinks or theologians. It is the human element that allows celebrity to overtake significance. It make Paris Hilton more interesting than Condoleeza Rice. It makes Anna Nicole's death considerably more tragic than the soldier(s) who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan today. It makes Britney Spears more important than all the heroic single mothers in America. Yes, it's the great deception to which we are all susceptible.

I was on my knees this morning, talking to God about some circumstances that I find myself in. They're troubling and perplexing. The truth is not clear and I'm incredibly saddened by the state of affairs that I see. The behavior of Christians whom I love and revere is in question. I found myself asking God for the truth. I complained to Him about it and told God how much I "just want the truth." His answer caught me quite by surprise.

God said to me, "Larry, you already have the truth." I tried to argue. "But God, so-and-so said this, and I've heard that. Someone is lying. I need to know the truth!" But God would not be deterred. He continued saying, "I am the only truth you have ... and quite frankly, the only truth you need to move forward. So stop worrying about the deception that swirls around you and focus on the truth that you already have." What a profound thing for a God to say. I wasn't happy to hear this from God this morning. But as I thought about it, I realized He is of course right. I already have the truth. So whether I see it on TV or hear it from friends or read it in the paper, I need not worry about deception.

May Anna Nicole rest in peace. May her family resolve their issues. May Britney Spears' hair grow back. And may the rest of us focus on The Truth. Somehow that holds more promise than anything else I can see today!