Loyd Ford “A Vapor, a Viewpoint, and a Better Response”
People think 120 years is a long time.
Most of us know we will not live that long, so a century can feel enormous. But measured against eternity, even 120 years is barely a breath.
Scripture compares life to a vapor —visible for a moment, then gone.
That truth should humble us.
And you, my friend, are being watched.
We often move through life as though our limited experience has given us a complete understanding of people, motives, justice, politics, faith, and the world.
Yet every one of us sees through a narrow lens. We must try to remember this and open our view.
Our perspective is shaped by where we were born, how we were raised, what we fear, what we desire, and, yes, our own selfishness. That bias can shape-shift reality until our interpretation feels like unquestionable truth.
This is one reason fighting human nature is difficult.
It’s just like living in a neighborhood where everything is nice and easy. Wealthy neighbors, great surroundings. If you are not careful in such an environment, you may forget that everyone’s life isn’t the same.
As humans, we also literally like to make things up. We guess what the outcome should be according to us. We guess what you are thinking, what you mean. Our guesses are often our own trouble.
We guess what we don’t know so we may feel in control, but doing so often produces the opposite feeling.
We are naturally drawn to defend ourselves, excuse our failures, and judge the failures of others.
My wife has a simple phrase for what the bible says about our perspective of the sin of others: She calls it “not ideal.” That may sound understated, but it carries an important reminder. Sin is sin, whether it belongs to the person on television, the stranger online, the political figure we dislike, or the person staring back at us in the mirror.
The Bible warns us against judgment, yet judgment has become entertainment for all of us in the 21st Century. This is openly seen on a variety of social media platforms every single day.
Turn on the television any afternoon in any market and you will find programs built around accusation, conflict, humiliation, and verdicts.
And that’s just the judge shows.
Social media operates much the same way. We consume fragments of information, choose “sides” quickly, reward outrage, and call our reaction wisdom.
What does this have to do with you and me? Everything.
We must learn to control our impulses before they control us.
That may mean reducing the influence of radicals, refusing to share unverified claims, stepping away from unfiltered social media, and resisting the temptation to turn every issue into a battle between good people and bad people.
I’ve got news. People can try to be good, but we all have the challenges of being human.
Sheep.
For those who work in Christian radio, the responsibility is greater. People will judge you. That is human nature. They will examine your words, your tone, your decisions, you actions and even your silence.
You are being watched. And many are looking for what is wrong or inconsistent in your words and behaviors so they can say what you believe is foolishness.
The fringes may seem out of control, but our response does not have to be.
We can choose humility over certainty, grace over condemnation, patience over reaction, and truth over tribal loyalty.
And we can show the world we are the opposite of arrogance and judgmental “cultural Christians.”
Our lives are brief.
Our perspective is limited.
We must remember our limits.
Our influence matters.
And one day, we will answer not only for what we believed, but for how we treated people along the way.
Loyd Ford is president and chief strategic officer at Rainmaker Pathway Consulting Works (RPC). They help local radio with strategy, growth and Familiar Surprise™. Reach him anytime at 864.448.4169 or Ford@RainmakerPathway.com. Loyd hosts The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™ podcast (Apple, Audible, Spotify).
