Interesting article about an veteran army psychologist who, after many years of counseling others through the stress and shock of wartime horrors, couldn't handle the stress in his own life any more.  http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130316/DA52C2OG1.html

One phrase stood out to me as I was reading about his life - "He used irreverence as a balm."  

And it didn't work.

By contrast, Psalm 37 relates the thoughts of David, the Israelite warrior king of 3000 years ago, who took the opposite approach.  When he saw evil plots and atrocities, David reminded himself that the wicked seem to be winning for a short time, but God is real and will bring just judgement / retribution / restitution at the end of time, which is really the Beginning of the true life, the Kingdom of God.

How to handle hearing about daily events of random horror and oppression?   Don't use the "balm of irreverence."  Instead,

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil     or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither,     like green plants they will soon die away.  

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord,     and he will give you the desires of your heart.  

5 Commit your way to the Lord;     trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,     your vindication like the noonday sun.  

7 Be still before the Lord     and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways,     when they carry out their wicked schemes.  

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;     do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,     but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.  

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;     though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land     and enjoy peace and prosperity.  

12 The wicked plot against the righteous     and gnash their teeth at them; 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,     for he knows their day is coming.  

14 The wicked draw the sword     and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy,     to slay those whose ways are upright. 15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,     and their bows will be broken.  

16 Better the little that the righteous have     than the wealth of many wicked; 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,     but the Lord upholds the righteous.  

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,     and their inheritance will endure forever. 19 In times of disaster they will not wither;     in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.  

20 But the wicked will perish:     Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,     they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.  

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,     but the righteous give generously; 22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,     but those he curses will be destroyed.  

23 The Lord makes firm the steps     of the one who delights in him; 24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,     for the Lord upholds him with his hand.  

25 I was young and now I am old,     yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken     or their children begging bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely;     their children will be a blessing.  

27 Turn from evil and do good;     then you will dwell in the land forever. 28 For the Lord loves the just     and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;     the offspring of the wicked will perish. 29 The righteous will inherit the land     and dwell in it forever.  

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,     and their tongues speak what is just. 31 The law of their God is in their hearts;     their feet do not slip.  

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,     intent on putting them to death; 33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked     or let them be condemned when brought to trial.  

34 Hope in the Lord     and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land;     when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.  

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man     flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, 36 but he soon passed away and was no more;     though I looked for him, he could not be found.  

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;     a future awaits those who seek peace. 38 But all sinners will be destroyed;     there will be no future for the wicked.  

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;     he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;     he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,     because they take refuge in him.

Why are some children valued why others are not valued?

This little boy is valued by his mother, despite the fact that he will almost certainly die before he turns 3 because he has a rare genetic disorder.

This little girl, though valued by her parents, was ignored by passers-by after being hit by a truck and left badly wounded in the middle of the street.  (And the same sorts of things happen in this country too...  )

Forty-two million little boys and girls are killed each year before they are born, because they are not valued by their parents.

Perhaps these things are because people in general only seek to help others when it will directly benefit themselves.  (There are exceptions, such as the first link above.)

However, according to the Bible, ALL human life (even unborn) is created in the image of God... and is worthy of being protected.   Is it worthwhile for me (as a believer in Jesus Christ) to risk my own life, health, money, and reputation in order to help rescue other people, even people who are considered 'unimportant'?  YES.

"Why do we, disciples of Jesus Christ, go out of our way to help those who are struggling around us?  Because we want to - because it's what God did for us - because of the incredible inheritance that God has given us..."

"And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." "
Luke 14:12-14

"Thus says the LORD, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place." "
Jeremiah 22:3

"Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
If you say, 'See, we did not know this,'
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?"
Proverbs 24:11-12