Sometimes we can feel a sense of overwhelm when viewing our newsfeeds. Today, with instant messaging on social media, 24/7 news channels on TV, plus the good old radio and newspaper, not to mention “word-of-mouth” news, we can actually become flooded with information constantly, and indeed perhaps feel a bit helpless and saddened or worried.

News has, of course, an important function. We learn from news, get warnings, and have more information. There is an interesting movie with Tom Hanks, News of the World (2020), where he plays Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a Civil War veteran who travels post-Civil War Texas reading newspapers to illiterate townspeople for ten cents a head. I like Tom Hanks and his acting.

This movie intrigued me as it showcased how news was spread 160 years ago, before radio, TV, internet or smartphones. The amount of news was manageable with some news being important for the people while others were just for relaxation after a hard day of work.

Choosing to watch uplifting, interesting, positive movies, and listening to positive podcasts and music, or getting together with folks for a meal and sharing stories of good news and times can be an antidote to all the bad news.

Not all news is relevant for us

Newspapers can be a great source of information allowing us to choose what really has relevance for us. I read the heading, look at the picture and make a decision: read it or turn the page?

Nonetheless, research shows that all that news actually has an impact on us, and that has to do with our Stone Age heritage where bad news might mean imminent death. A part of our brain, deep down near the connection to the spinal cord, the so-called limbic system, takes everything in to make a snap decision whether there is danger for us, and this limbic system is not as smart and knowledgeable as our thinking brain. Its more like a three-year-old child.

When there is anything slightly dangerous or suspicious, even the pitch of a voice, some sounds or smells, it reacts by releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenalin into the blood to prepare us for fight or flight, or make us freeze as a stress response. Weirdly, even irrelevant news can still cause us stress. It is not a conscious thing.

In fact we have so many stressors nowadays (in addition to that news there is stress from work, school, finances, health, relationships …) that we have far too much of those hormones in our system, and that can also challenge our coping strategies.

Unfortunately the limbic system cannot even distinguish between real and fake dangers. So if we, for example, watch an action movie, our limbic system works overtime.

While the “adrenalin high” can feel good for those 90 minutes — that is why we go there in the first place — it actually can cause physical damage like inflammation in the long run.

It is good in these times to remember that God has us and remember that in most cases we are not in danger. He knows what we need at any time, all the time. Isn’t this comforting? We know that we can rely on God in all circumstances.

Good news signal safety

Just as bad news signals danger, good news signals safety. A smile, a hug, a friendly word, good food, exercise and good news can make us “feel” good, because endorphins are released. They can lower pain and improve physical ailments.

God is the real deal — the more we focus on His teachings and spend time meditating on his word and sharing our faith and love with others together the more we are strong and strengthened.

The great thing is, this happiness can be contagious. Smiling in a friendly way, using friendly words, that has an effect not only on us, but also on the people around us. Being “nice” to those we interact with can make their day.

So many times in our lives, even in the little challenges, we can find something to be thankful for. It can really remind us how God uses other people to inspire and help us.

Just before Christmas, my bike stopped working. Even though I know little about engines I got my tools from home to see whether I could find the fault, but I couldn’t.

A friendly young man, going by on his bike, stopped and helped me. He was a mechanic, and he even went from St Mary’s Church in Warwick to Wellbottom to get a new spark plug to see whether that would help. Even though he could not repair the bike on the spot, it made my day. Wow. He was my Good Samaritan that day.

When I had to move a heavy piece of office furniture, a manager from a pub in Hamilton got his trolley and helped me move it. Wow. Another Good Samaritan. Those people did not know me before, but they helped me when I needed it. I am grateful for friends and family who help me frequently as well.

All that is good news and worthy of telling. Yes, there are good and friendly people in this world, many more than one might expect. We can help each other and make the burdens a little bit lighter.

Pass it on

There is some good news that is definitely worth passing on: God loves us. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to lighten our burdens, to carry what is pressing us down and to overcome the division. He told us the greatest commandment is to love God (worship and prayer) and love your neighbour as yourself (service and ministry).

When he was asked, “Who is my neighbour?” he told the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

As God’s people, as His ambassadors here on this little planet Earth we can spread the very best news ever: Christ died for us to reconnect us with God, the source of love. Love being the strongest force on Earth, the whole world can be changed and saved through it. Hallelujah.

Christ gave us a great commission when He returned to God on Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter. I paraphrase: pass it on! Keep telling the Good News to all people in all nations (evangelism), teach them what I taught you (discipleship) and baptise them (into the fellowship of the Church) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and I will be with you until the end of time.

As we believe this message, we can start anew, again with our whole hearts love and be inspired to grow in the Spirit of Christ, come what may, and we can overcome all the bad news with this love.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV): “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

• Karsten Decker was the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Bermuda from 2010 to 2017, and after returning from Germany is now the temporary pulpit supply at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smith’s