No Bad News
Pushing Past Our Inner Villain
Empathizing with Evillene
My favorite movie of all time is Motown’s version of The Wiz. Say what you want about Diana Ross’s acting or the visual effects, but between the reimagined music, intricate choreography, and all-star cast, this 1978 film is cemented as a cultural classic. I had a particular affinity for Evillene, the wicked witch of the West (as I do with all movie villains). Not only was she a fashion icon and boss. She was also a grieving sister minding her Black business before Dorothy came to town, traipsing around in her late sister’s magical shoes.
Regardless of her villainy, I empathized with Evillene’s position. As misguided as she may have been, I believed she was also misunderstood, overworked, and unappreciated. Her musical number “No Bad News” still lives rent-free inside my head as a rallying cry from emotional burnout. And the more I age, the more I realize how hostile surroundings can inadvertently turn us into negative beings. It’s no wonder why we wish to circumvent them altogether.
Just check out some of these lyrics:
When I wake up in the afternoon
Which it pleases me to do
Don't nobody bring me no bad news
'Cause I wake up already negative
And I've wired up my fuse
So don't nobody bring me no bad news
If we're going to be buddies
Better bone up on the rules
'Cause don't nobody bring me no bad news
You can be my best of friends
As opposed to payin' dues
But don't nobody bring me no bad news.
From our current political and economic climate to the mundane woes we experience in our relationships with family and friends, staying positive is hard these days. Still, that doesn't mean we can avoid having tough conversations or afford to lose hope. Bad news in a fallen world is inevitable, but how we handle these moments determines the strength of our character and the impact we leave on the future.
So, how do we keep the peace during so much tragedy and division?
How do we both maintain and pass on the blessing of faith?
Spread Good News
Not in a toxic, fake way, but as a disciple of Jesus Christ, whose responsibility is first to believe the Messiah’s perfect work has freed us and then to participate in this divine work for others by crucifying our fleshly desires, living by the Spirit, and spreading the message of salvation.
That’s how we start to experience genuine joy.
As leaders who follow Christ, our mission is to honor our testimonies of suffering by serving as witnesses to God‘s healing power. We are to learn his ways, repent from ours, and teach others about the gift of redemption. He calls us to feed the hungry, mend the sick, help the impoverished, and spread light into the dark corners of our communities.
Though confronted with seemingly overwhelming wickedness, we will not be consumed nor conform. God has given us authority as new creations and has equipped us with wisdom, righteousness, and truth so that we may become positive examples to those who come after us in hopes that they, too, will grow in faith and be saved.
Instead of trying to outrun negativity, we can fight it with the gospel because there’s still far too much work to do to bury our heads in the sand. The good news is that when we allow God to work in us, he transforms our fear into faith and positions us for purpose. He helps us push past our insecurities to march down the yellow brick roads of sin, selfishness, and negativity with the inner strength to unmask the false wizardry of earthly influences and find our way back home to holiness.
To God be the Glory.
Excellent analogous writing that has spoken volumes to my spirit. Thank you for sharing your perspectives and leading in your position in His purpose. Let the march down the yellow brick road away from negativity begin for a multitude of us.