Msgr. Charles Pope: An Arousal Gap, as Seen in a Humorous Sketch

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Msgr. Charles Pope • February 9, 2018

The video below is a comedic depiction of our tendency to ignore things that we think don’t matter to us. If we aren’t careful we can live a self-centered life in which the sufferings of others are too remote; if it doesn’t affect us directly we are content to ignore it. Some have called this an “arousal gap.”

While we can’t carry everyone’s burdens and it’s impossible to be well-informed on every calamity in the world,

There should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one member suffers, every member suffers with it; if one member is honored, every member rejoices with it (1 Cor 12:25-25).

In the sketch below, a woman drives to work as the car radio broadcasts reports on one calamity after another, some of them of biblical proportions. Of course the over-the-top nature of the calamities is what makes for the comedy. The woman driving takes no notice of the disasters being described until one comparatively minor problem is announced that directly affects her. Suddenly she becomes agitated and begins to complain loudly.

The situation laid out in this sketch should lead us to ask ourselves a few questions:

  • What gets our attention?

  • What gets us worked up?

  • Are we as aware of the problems of others as we are of our own?

  • Are we concerned enough with the problems of others or do we just tune them out?

Enjoy the video!

An Arousal Gap, as Seen in a Humorous Sketch