More News

How do you get your news? Do you rely on the morning newspaper or perhaps this weekly one? Do you check the Internet for the latest goings-on in the world? Some people just have to log on to their computer and they are automatically updated with world and local news. Lots of people tune into the evening newscast to catch up on things, while others listen to all the latest events on their car radio.

How about your family and friends? How do you get the news about your extended family and other loved ones? Do you make and receive telephone calls, visit each other or perhaps send an occasional letter in the mail? Do you catch up through e-mails or on Facebook?

There are a lot of ways to keep in touch these days.

Remember back in those old movies — or perhaps it occurred during your own lifetime — when young newspaper boys would stand on the corner, raise up a special edition of the paper and yell, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" at the top of their lungs? Well, that was one way to catch the attention of passers-by in order to sell a paper to inform the masses of extra-special news.

Other information needs to be passed around too. When I was growing up, my cousin's wife was the one who prided herself on keeping everyone up to date with the goings-on in our family. Sometimes it was quite helpful, but now that I am an adult I think that often it was just plain gossip!

It wasn't always easy to exchange information, though. Back in Biblical times there were no newspapers, and certainly no "live, local and late breaking" news on television; no Internet or telephone either. People had to depend, for the most part, on word of mouth. News must have traveled rather slowly back then, not like it does today. One person would have to tell another who would then tell others and so on and so on.

There was one man, whose very life was to be the bearer of very special, amazing news. This man was the one whose life was foretold in Isaiah, where it is written: "...I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'' John the Baptist was the one that is written about in Isaiah — the one who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus Christ. John did grow up to appear in the wilderness, proclaiming baptism for the forgiveness of sins. John also proclaimed that someone greater than he would be coming. "The one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized with water' but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Well, John the Baptist did his job well. He spread the word faithfully that Jesus the Savior was coming and that people should "prepare the way for the Lord." And Jesus did come; he followed John, fulfilling this part of the prophesy.

And now it is time for us to be like John; to tell everyone we meet that it is time to prepare the way of the Lord, here and now. For in just a few weeks He is coming. The Christ child is coming. Are you ready?

Are we ready? Let us prepare His way.

Ann Thomas Rinker has lived in Mount Airy for more than 20 years and has written for The Gazette for most of that time. She is married to Roger L. Rinker, a pastor of Harvest Wind Lutheran Church in New Market. They have three children and two grandchildren. If you would like to respond to her column, e-mail her at atrinker@verizon.net.