Sunday, July 20, 2008
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Television Addiction.
When I gave up television for Lent, I expected something really great to happen...but nothing did. I had purposed to use all the time I normally watched T.V. to read the Bible and work on my relationship with God. Instead, I spent a lot of time watching various ministers on the internet, reading Christian fiction...and sleeping a lot.
What is it with me and television...and re-runs at that?! I could beat anyone at Friends trivia, love watching Lifetime movies, will not plan anything for a Saturday because of some Discovery Channel or Animal Planet marathon... It's an addiction. Here's what I wrote in my journal-to-Jesus today:
"Stupid television! What would happen if I got rid of it? I really almost hate it! But I can't seem to stop watching... What do I do? I feel almost inclined to call [my addiction] demonic, like "the box" Riddler concocted in Batman Forever, for I feel mentally tied to the television when it's on and nothing but exhaustion causes me to turn it off. I want to, and when I do, I feel better."
I'm tempted to give it up...yet as I continued to say in my journal, I don't think I can do it alone. Certainly not without God...
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20
Ever feel like starting a movement?
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Comments (8)
May the Lord give you strength for what He would have you do Laura.
Abide and be blessed IN Christ Jesus!
Bernie (A former certified couch potato, remote wrangler and Babylon Box addict with 45 years experience)
I'm a vegetable too! I dream of living in a house without cable or any TV at all...
but where I'm at right now, my room-mate has a 42" HD and it's pretty nice. I recently started reading "7 habits of highly effective people," which has actually been pretty good so far and in it the guy was talking about watching TV and saying that on our death-bed's we aren't gonna say, "gee I really wish I could have seen all the episodes of "Lost" (although I have)" but it will be the investments we made in our relationships and passions. It has really made me to rethink the purpose of those 42 inches of High Definition bliss.
I did a bit of checking after reading your post. Having gotten rid of cable about 16 years ago I don't have the same issue..but I know I could if I got any channels. All my tv is used for now is to watch occasional dvd's....
Found this interesting :
Millions of Americans are so hooked on television that they fit the criteria for substance abuse as defined in the official psychiatric manual, according to Rutgers University psychologist and TV-Free America board member Robert Kubey. Heavy TV viewers exhibit five dependency symptoms--two more than necessary to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse. These include: 1) using TV as a sedative; 2) indiscriminate viewing; 3) feeling loss of control while viewing; 4) feeling angry with oneself for watching too much; 5) inability to stop watching; and 6) feeling miserable when kept from watching.
I got it from here: http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html#influence
Thought you ight enjoy checking it out.
I know when I was in college staying at the dorms, I saw in me a potential TV addict, within myself I vowed not to have one (I was just a sinner then), for if I was I ever going to give an account for wasting my time it would be with out that Idiot Box.
For most of my life it has been that way, with only brief spurts of that thing around. Since being a Christian I care even less in having that thing around. The filth that runs on it is about rampant, if not the programs than the Ads.
It seems other things just take it's place, some important and some not.
So true. I actually find myself wasting more time on this here computer and the television box that I dont' know that I'm "redeeming" the time well. I hope God leads you into what does the best for you! :)
It is a great struggle....the big black box in the living room! :)
Thanks for sharing so transparently!
@Willowlost - Thanks so much for posting that; sadly, I fit all of the six categories of dependency that artilce cited. I keep telling myself of all the things that Comcast shows which I really enjoy watching, I could purchase on DVD. My television is so old anyway that come February, it won't receive any signal but Cable without the new converter box...I've thought about canceling service myself entirely.
Thanks all for empathizing. I knew I wasn't alone in this.
@Cygnus33 - I think we've all got our dependencies that we struggle with