The Science of Not Knowing

It must take a particular personality type that enables one to become a TV weatherperson. It must take the type of individual whom does not have a particular necessity to be "right" about many things. There are certainly those persons who find themselves always needing to be right or they simply don't either feel confident about themselves or don't feel comfortable with others. TV weatherpersons must not struggle with either one of these needs.

As the current "ice storm" headed toward the Dallas metroplex, the TV weather forecasters kept warning of the impending "doom" of "inches of ice" that would be "cutting off life as we know it." As the "Extra Edition" corner barkers of old once heralded the latest breaking headlines, today's TV weatherpersons can whip up an entire metropolitan area into a frenzy with their probable forecasts and "live action coverage." The media frenzy is rather ridiculous, actually.

Saturday afternoon I allegedly "took my life in my hands" as I ventured out to the local Walmart. Though there was a fair amount of rain falling and pooling on the ground, the dangerous weather forecasted was nowhere to be found! Walking through the Walmart grocery section, it was clear the shelves had experienced a run on "non-perishable items." (I had heard one of the weatherpersons go so far as to suggest people "stock up because we just don't know how bad this storm will be"). I had to wonder if there must be some collusion to this whole thing.

I appreciate the "science of not knowing" (there was a time when I was actually considering a career in meteorology), but what the media does with the weather is tantamount to deception. It seams sensationalism (media hype) gets the best of the weather forecasters and the viewing public. It is reasonable that if a local station can hook our attention at "continuing coverage" we will be more apt to patronize their advertisers. Business is understandable, but giving undue concern to viewers is not.

Last night, countless Dallas churches cancelled worship services for this morning on the basis of these TV forecasts only to awaken to nothing more than rain soaked streets. My home church held both of the regularly scheduled worship services as well as the scheduled Bible classes. Because we had only about 50% of our regular attendance present, it became evident many visitors came to our church today because their church was "embarrassingly closed" (I was told one guest actually used this terminology). While warning the public of potentially dangerous weather is of certain benefit, it is quite unnecessary to unduly alarm them. People are not ignorant. Most can discern danger and can assess their own ability to navigate dangerous conditions.

Isn't it strange how so many can feed on another's anxiety? When other people around us "spin" into anxiety, it will serve everyone well to simply stay calm, assess the situation and then act accordingly. Why is it that so many are reticent to merely admitting they don't have a solid answer? Forcing an answer causes anxiety that is often unnecessary.

A considerable number of people missed meaningful Christian fellowship this morning and at my home faith community, a lot of people missed a really good sermon on the value of Sabbath rest. If more people had remained less anxious and had the weatherpersons simply reported the facts and admitted their science of not knowing, perhaps it would have gone better for the masses (literally).

As I record these words, the TV weatherman just announced it will be a hazardous commute in the morning due to the ice on the road. Heading to bed, I guess I'll just have to wait and see how accurate is this "science of not knowing."

"Don't be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God."
Phil. 4:6