I like to read the news. I usually check the headlines on the internet news sites a few times a day. I try to be watchful over what I read, but every now and then while scanning the headlines I’ll see a picture or a headline about a celebrity. Why are those stories usually bad news? Anyway, that’s how I know who Amy Winehouse is.

I don’t remember ever reading an article about her. I don’t remember ever hearing one song by her. But I saw the pictures. I saw the headlines. That’s all I knew about her. I knew she was addicted to drugs. I knew she was a singer who was booed from a concert recently. I knew she was in an abusive relationship. And today I knew that she died at the age of 27.

When the news page loaded on my computer today and I saw the headline that she was dead, I was shocked at first, but then not surprised. Then I was sad. I was sad she had such a tragic life. I was sad that she had such a short life. I was sad we all watched it happen. We were all surprised to hear the news. But no one was surprised it happened.

Why am I saying all this on the Highway of Love blog? Because after all the headlines, after all the pictures, with all that I knew about her life, I don’t remember praying for her. I can’t say for certain that I didn’t, but I also can’t say for certain that I did. How did I see all that and not pray every time? How did I not really notice her until after she died? Lord, forgive me. Help me to see what You see. Help me to hear what You hear. Help me to love like You love.

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:15-17, KJV)

And when He had stepped into the boat, the man who had been controlled by the unclean spirits kept begging Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:18-19, Amplified & NKJV)

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. (John 3:17, Amplified)

…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her… When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:7,10-11; KJV)