Kate – Questions & Speculations
Towards the end of last week, Katherine, The Princess of Wales released a video explaining that she was receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Since then I have seen outpourings of sympathy from across the world.
I have found this whole saga deeply uncomfortable. On January 17th it was announced that the previous day she had abdominal surgery and, in order to recover, would not be undertaking any public engagements until after Easter. With only a passing interest in the lives and movements of the royal family that seemed like sufficient information to me. In simple terms a middle-aged woman had surgery and needed time off to heal.
What followed I found disturbing. Rumours and counter rumours of why she as not being seen. Marriage breakdown, botched plastic surgery and other theories being proffered by tabloid press, supposedly serious newspapers and social media seemed to have almost daily speculations as to why she was not being seen in public. This scripture seemed to be most apt:
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11
My honest thought was that maybe the reason she had not been seen was because she was fulfilling the statement made that she would not be seen! Added to this there was the issue of an airbrushed photo and at least one report suggesting that the time she had been seen in public was actually a body double. All added fuel to the fire.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.Ephesians 4:29
There were so many issues that went through mind. The predominant one was that this is simply not important! The others were why did the press continually suggest the public had a right to know somebodies personal, medical information and why was there an assumption that there was more information to know than had previously been told?
It all smacked of gossip being pedaled by people trying to monetise their content.
So, now we have an ill woman and her husband having to make decisions about their personal family business and presumably help their children process the actual news and the fake news that was being pedaled on all sides.
The result was that Kate ended up sharing her personal business with to the world. Hopefully they can now all be left in peace.
Of course we can all fall into the trap of gossiping. The bible has interesting things to say about and it is worth reminding ourselves of some of the key themes.
A Gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13
James, the brother of Jesus was aware of the power of the tongue. It as great potential to encourage, to build up and to bless. It also has the capacity for great destruction:
the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3: 5- 6
As I reflect on this news story I am reminded to ensure there is no ‘log in my eye’ and that I intentionally choose not to engage in gossip. Who’s with me?
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