January 22, 2007
Lately I’ve wondered whether or not I’m addicted to T.V. Webster defines addict as, “to devote or give (oneself) habitually or compulsively to something”. I consistently find myself watching a lot of it. After an evening of staring mindlessly for hours into the boob tube, I head for bed feeling guilty of wasting another block of precious time, knowing it is lost forever.
What is the draw from T.V. that continually pulls me into it, helplessly lured and taunted by its sights and sounds? Is it my propensity toward laziness that finds it easy to passively and thoughtlessly sit and veg? Recently, in some of my “self-talk”, I have referenced T.V. as a mind numbing activity. Other than for a few “educational” programs, (if they honestly can be called such), the majority of programs I watch provide no real or measurable substance to positively improve my life, and I feel my selections are, on an average, fairly good ones.
I certainly do not want to lump all TV and all TV programs into the same category. However, for me TV has become a problem. So what is the solution to my problem? First I have to admit I have a problem. That’s done. Second I need a plan to break the addiction. Realistically, I don’t think cold turkey will work well. We have three TV’s in three different rooms in our home. However, I can intentionally begin to limit my time watching. I can also choose to fast TV a day here and there. For this to work I need to replace TV watching with other activities which will enhance my life and contribute to my personal growth as a person. Taking a walk, reading a good book, spending time in quiet reflection are all good starts.
The greatest fallout from my TV watching is the hit my relationship with God takes and the positive affect on the lives of others that issues from that relationship. Relationships take time to cultivate. I have often complained to God about my lack of time. It really has never been an issue of time but of priorities and passion. I believe I understand a little of what Jesus said to his disciples, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. Out of the depths of my being is a cry to make the time I have count in my pursuit of Him. The outcome I know will be to the benefit of many.
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Living with Anticipation and Hope
January 16, 2007
I need something to give the routine and mundane meaning. For me there has to be a purpose, a reason that allows me to live life with anticipation and hope from day to day. For many that purpose doesn’t go much further than to put food on the table, pay for the next weekend adventure, expectation of the next sexual encounter, or making a lot of money.
I kind of see this purpose/meaning thing as circles within circles, the smallest one being the routine day to day stuff we do. As we go out from there the purposes become more significant until a kind of ultimate purpose is arrived at. Unfortunately, for a lot of people the circle they stop at and are content to live their lives around remains rather small and insignificant.
I won’t pretend to understand all the reasons for this. I’m sure for many it is because they have never been given any larger purpose or context for their life. For others it is a matter of choice, a simple matter of what feels good. But I do believe every person, if really honest, wrestles internally with the need for their life to make sense. I mean really make sense.
For me the circles go something like this: the first slightly larger circle around the daily activities of my life is a circle I would call caring for my family in the practical ways of supplying for their needs. I realize in my culture the idea of needs has been completely redefined, but for now let’s just leave it at that.
The next circle out from that one I would call achieving excellence in my work. The next one out from that I would call living in the Kingdom of God by means of being a student of Jesus Christ. Finally, the circle farthest out I would call living in the expectation of a future with Jesus. A future, Dallas Willard calls, “so full of beauty and goodness we can hardly imagine.”
The two largest circles are the ones for me which provide the context for the smaller ones. Solving a problem on a job site, putting together a project schedule, or creating a bid package, all take on new importance when I understand that how I do those things are important to God and together, with everything else I do, make up my life in Him. With God there is no artificial distinction between secular and sacred. When one’s life is committed to the glory of God and filled with the expectation of a future beyond words, every act, no matter how routine or mundane, carries with it the DNA of significance and can be an act of worship bringing pleasure to God.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
I need something to give the routine and mundane meaning. For me there has to be a purpose, a reason that allows me to live life with anticipation and hope from day to day. For many that purpose doesn’t go much further than to put food on the table, pay for the next weekend adventure, expectation of the next sexual encounter, or making a lot of money.
I kind of see this purpose/meaning thing as circles within circles, the smallest one being the routine day to day stuff we do. As we go out from there the purposes become more significant until a kind of ultimate purpose is arrived at. Unfortunately, for a lot of people the circle they stop at and are content to live their lives around remains rather small and insignificant.
I won’t pretend to understand all the reasons for this. I’m sure for many it is because they have never been given any larger purpose or context for their life. For others it is a matter of choice, a simple matter of what feels good. But I do believe every person, if really honest, wrestles internally with the need for their life to make sense. I mean really make sense.
For me the circles go something like this: the first slightly larger circle around the daily activities of my life is a circle I would call caring for my family in the practical ways of supplying for their needs. I realize in my culture the idea of needs has been completely redefined, but for now let’s just leave it at that.
The next circle out from that one I would call achieving excellence in my work. The next one out from that I would call living in the Kingdom of God by means of being a student of Jesus Christ. Finally, the circle farthest out I would call living in the expectation of a future with Jesus. A future, Dallas Willard calls, “so full of beauty and goodness we can hardly imagine.”
The two largest circles are the ones for me which provide the context for the smaller ones. Solving a problem on a job site, putting together a project schedule, or creating a bid package, all take on new importance when I understand that how I do those things are important to God and together, with everything else I do, make up my life in Him. With God there is no artificial distinction between secular and sacred. When one’s life is committed to the glory of God and filled with the expectation of a future beyond words, every act, no matter how routine or mundane, carries with it the DNA of significance and can be an act of worship bringing pleasure to God.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Continuing to Grow
January 3, 2007
I cleaned out my closet the other day getting rid of clothes I no longer wanted or which no longer fit. Yes, I have to admit my waist size has grown slightly. Fortunately I have been blessed with a metabolism that has at least kept me looking rather fit all my life. Even with that blessing, however, middle age brings bodily changes even to the best of gene pools. It has dawned on me that even as fully grown, mature adults, we keep changing and growing…and we will until the day we die.
I have been giving the thought of growing old a bit more time lately. I have to admit the idea is not very appealing to me. The prospect of further physical changes, all of which are going the wrong direction, leaves me feeling rather depressed. A friend recently wrote that old age arrives with the grace of a wrecking ball. I haven’t been hit too hard yet, but is that what I can expect?
Part of the reason for my feelings of depression at growing older is owed to a good dose of vanity, pure and simple. But a deeper reason I feel has to do with the shrinking of opportunities, the narrowing of time to accomplish the things I still want to accomplish along with the loss of strength and health to accomplish them. I am committed to doing my best at staying in shape and taking care of myself, but I also realize I cannot hold back the inevitable forever.
As my body keeps changing and growing (not necessarily in the right direction) I also want to keep growing and changing in the right direction. Deep within me is the desire to finish strong…..to make the most of the opportunities still left….to truly believe and live as though my best days are still ahead of me.
I desire to continue to grow, not just in knowledge or wisdom, though important, but more important in love and character. If my days before God on this earth should number close to my dad’s, who died at 91, or my mom’s, whose still living at 93, I want to know that I have arrived there a better man than I am today. I want to be able to look back on my life and rest in the fact that, in spite of missed opportunities, wasted time, unfulfilled dreams and failures, at least I never stopped pressing on, I never prematurely threw in the towel, I never gave up the fight.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
I cleaned out my closet the other day getting rid of clothes I no longer wanted or which no longer fit. Yes, I have to admit my waist size has grown slightly. Fortunately I have been blessed with a metabolism that has at least kept me looking rather fit all my life. Even with that blessing, however, middle age brings bodily changes even to the best of gene pools. It has dawned on me that even as fully grown, mature adults, we keep changing and growing…and we will until the day we die.
I have been giving the thought of growing old a bit more time lately. I have to admit the idea is not very appealing to me. The prospect of further physical changes, all of which are going the wrong direction, leaves me feeling rather depressed. A friend recently wrote that old age arrives with the grace of a wrecking ball. I haven’t been hit too hard yet, but is that what I can expect?
Part of the reason for my feelings of depression at growing older is owed to a good dose of vanity, pure and simple. But a deeper reason I feel has to do with the shrinking of opportunities, the narrowing of time to accomplish the things I still want to accomplish along with the loss of strength and health to accomplish them. I am committed to doing my best at staying in shape and taking care of myself, but I also realize I cannot hold back the inevitable forever.
As my body keeps changing and growing (not necessarily in the right direction) I also want to keep growing and changing in the right direction. Deep within me is the desire to finish strong…..to make the most of the opportunities still left….to truly believe and live as though my best days are still ahead of me.
I desire to continue to grow, not just in knowledge or wisdom, though important, but more important in love and character. If my days before God on this earth should number close to my dad’s, who died at 91, or my mom’s, whose still living at 93, I want to know that I have arrived there a better man than I am today. I want to be able to look back on my life and rest in the fact that, in spite of missed opportunities, wasted time, unfulfilled dreams and failures, at least I never stopped pressing on, I never prematurely threw in the towel, I never gave up the fight.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
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