Over the years, I have become convinced that TV is a huge distraction to real life. While I still enjoy an occasional movie - I cannot imagine what our lives would consist of if we watched a couple hours of TV a night. I simply don't understand how anyone could have the time. Another thing I learned about myself is just how influenced I was by the culture on TV. I was so desensitized to violence, immorality, rudeness. . . Since I've been a non-TV owner I've become quite shockable in the entertainment realm - and I confess to being a very conservative judge of what's appropriate for me and what's not. The bottom line is, removing the distraction of TV gave me space in life to discover various ways of taking life to the next level: having more time for interaction with Jeff, the kids, and others; being less influenced by popular opinion and more influenced by godly insight; not being emotionally engaged in fictitious characters lives.
Why do I write all this? To introduce a new season of my life. Just this morning I was sensing God is taking my life to the next level. It's as if He's stripping away ALL the things that distract me in life - I am currently on a sabbatical from iPod games, books, news, movies, and now the internet - so that I can see clearly what it is He is trying to teach me. I do not think this is a forever sabbatical, but just a season to clear my brain and heart. I believe it's so that when I return to a more limited use of these things, they will not be compulsively controlling me, but I will be able to use them as a tool and treat - without losing control of how long I sit in front of the screen.
I will not be blogging again until God releases me to do so. I will not be on facebook. And I will have very limited access to e-mail. (Jeff will check it for me a couple times a week and print out any I need to know about) I don't know if this will be a week, a month, or a year, but I do believe I will be back. Until then, may God bless you on your journey - and may He take you up to a new level.
For the record, it's not so much about "not liking" TV, probably more like Jen's comment about "liking it too much." It pulls on multiple desires. I feel bad after I watch it a lot. I don't need to live my life through someone else's story. I have a lot of pain of my own that I need to face, instead of "sub-surfacing" it (putting it under.) I want to be free from "the influence" (I am influenced by a lot of things.) I don't have time. I don't want my brain to run on that "wavelength." So a while back, I just figured I'd watch less :) And I'm not thinking badly about people who "watch more." They seem to have a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteJeff
Wow--these same thoughts were swirling around in my head a few weeks ago. I didn't take a sabbatical, but I pulled WAY back and it has been good, very good.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you during this new season, and I do not doubt that it will bear fruit for you and your family and take you to that next level!
My Lent decision was to stop watching mindless TV, I had to choose the shows I wanted to watch and plan to watch them and then turn it off. Purposeful watching.
ReplyDeleteI also decided to step away from FB. I just love catching up with everyone's updates but WOW that takes up a lot of my time and really gets me behind. It's a vicious cycle.
My life was spinning crazy before this change and I knew something had to give. These things were pretty obvious. God has met me in this change and has begun leading me in new directions. It is amazing what He is doing with this time. Rather than feeling like I am turning away from TV, FB and mindlessness, I am turning to a purposeful life (as God designed me).
Titus2 ministries has a book, among many, Managers of Their Chores, and she talks about our response to work, especially as mothers. I realized I was working to get to the break rather than working as to the Lord. I was very bitter and discouraged when my breaks were interrupted (as ALWAYS happens as Mom). Now I am praising God for the work 6 days a week and if an extra break comes along I praise Him even more for knowing me and what I needed. I've found I am so much more fulfilled and can rest so much sweeter after a good days work than after a day when I've pursued specific breaks. Plus it means I get to wake up to a cleaner house and I'm not already behind due to wasted time the days before.
Sorry my "comment" is so long... I haven't been connecting on FB so I guess I needed to talk more here. LOL!!