"Part 8: Read Carl Jeffrey Wright’s In Search of Heroes Interview and Become Inspired" by Ralph Zuranski
Click Here to visit Jeff Wright's Heroes Page
check out the links below to the Guardian Line Comics and Urban Ministries
www.TheGuardianLine.com
www.urbanministries.com
Ralph Zuranski: Well, you know that is so true, “the bleed that leads” seems to be the mantra of the media that is in control of TV and radio. My goal with the Heroes program is to help spread good news about heroes in the local community doing good things at a grass roots level.
I don’t think that the media that we have today will ever change their way if they can make a cent off of somebody’s suffering.
Jeff Wright: I agree with that and I think that one of the things that we have to do as people of faith is to make a personal commitment that we will not feed into that frenzy of negativity. We won’t repeat a bad story.
Jeff Wright: Most of us need to limit the amount of consumption of that negative media content anyway. I wrote a book, God’s Vision of Television and really my point in that book was to limit your diet of negative media content and you will have a better life.
Jeff Wright: It’s an addiction and it does have an impact. There are just countless studies on the consequences of negative media consumption and negative behavior, whether it’s violence in children or sedentary lifestyle and overeating in adults which leads to so many conditions: diabetes and heart disease to arthritis complications. All of these ultimately are rooted in what you are feeding your mind.
Jeff Wright: Then the other point is, most people kind of go through life as if they have an infinite supply of thoughts when in fact it’s really finite. So if you have a finite number of thoughts, and you know you have a finite number of thoughts because you are only going to live so long and you don’t know how long that is, why spend those thoughts on so much negative?
Jeff Wright: All of our lives would be enriched if we would think on some other things.
Ralph Zuranski: That is so true. Do you think that it takes courage to pursue new ideas? So many people get caught up in that negativity and caught up in their own social peer group and it’s hard to make a change sometimes and get those negative people out of your life?
Jeff Wright: There’s an old saying that “nobody likes change but a wet baby and even they cry”. I like to think that the people who are going to make a difference in this world have to begin with understanding that it will take courage and it is also going to take boldness to stand alone, to stand for something new, positive and different and that is redemptive.
Jeff Wright: That’s got to be one of the core principles of your behavior if you are a person who is an innovator, who is trying to make a difference and to go in a different direction.
Ralph Zuranski: Are you willing to experience discomfort in the pursuit of your dream?
Jeff Wright: Absolutely. I had to make a pretty significant sacrifice leaving my position in corporate America to come to Urban Ministries. There was a financial sacrifice.
Jeff Wright: There were a number of personal sacrifices. But it was uncomfortable because let’s face it, making more money has its advantages. But at the same time I got a tremendous unexpected reward from having a life that was synthesized, I think, for the first time with the purposes and aims that God had for me. And there’s no price you can put on that.
Jeff Wright: So in that sense the sacrifice was worth it. Sort of like a mother sacrifices her figure and some pain in order to bring a child into the world. There’s just simply no comparison.
Ralph Zuranski: Is it beneficial to make decisions quickly?
Jeff Wright: Sometimes it is and sometimes not. Some people don’t move forward in their lives because they can’t get to a point of decision. They take forever. They are looking for a sign. They want more confirmation.
Jeff Wright: Finding the pace of decision-making that fits the problem that you are trying to solve and the situation that you are in, there is actually a skill that has to be developed over time. Knowing when to act quickly and knowing when to say, “You know what, I think I better think about that one for another day,” is an important skill to develop.
Jeff Wright: There are times in my leadership of this organization when I do need to decide and decide right away. And then there are other times when I need to know that something needs a little more prayer, a little more contemplation, or maybe just some additional information.