Finding Time for Reflection in a Noisy World
A while back, I wrote about the danger of taking your theology from podcasts and popular preachers rather than from the Bible. At least one commenter stated that part of the problem is our cultural tendency to do things quickly -- it's faster and easier to listen to a podcast than to read the Bible and think about it.
I think another part of the problem is that we live in an extremely noisy world. It's not just auditory noise, but visual and mental noise, as well. Time for prayer, study, meditation, and personal reflection is often crowded out by the constant mental stimulation -- iPhones, televisions, computers, radios, and other devices. These devices are not evil, but they can make it difficult to find the moments of quiet that are necessary to grow personally and in our walk with God.
I face these challenges as much as anybody -- sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to respond to email, engage in social media, keep up with friends, play with my kids, talk to my wife, do my job, spend time with the Lord, etc., etc. I don't always manage my time as well as I would like, but I've been thinking lately about how to find intentional quiet time. Here are some ideas (you might use one of these or all of them, depending upon the demands and situations of your life):
Put it on your schedule. Try to maintain a consistent time each day for prayer and time with God. If your schedule varies from day to day, come up with a weekly schedule. Literally put it on your calendar as if quiet time were an appointment like any other. When your smartphone reminds you of the appointment, you're much more likely to take it seriously.
Find a good location. Your favorite coffee shop might not be the best place for true quiet time, especially if all your friends are there. Look for a spot where you can truly be alone, away from distractions and noise.
Don't begin your day with electronic media. I'll admit that I'm guilty of this one. As soon as I wake up, I'm tempted to check my email, text messages, and voicemail. But most of those things can wait -- once I've had time alone with God, I find I'm in a much better frame of mind to tackle the correspondence.
Consider a "media-free" day. Shannon and I have recently tried to set apart one day a week as a day without electronics. To be honest, we haven't always been successful at sticking with it. And the kids don't like missing The Backyardigans (although I don't always mind missing it). However, when we're diligent to observe our media-free days, we enjoy reconnecting with one another the kids. And we generally feel less stressed and frantic.
Use internet blocking software. Think about installing a program like Freedom, that intentionally blocks you from the internet for up to eight hours (you just tell it how long to keep you offline). This removes the temptation to check in with Facebook or Twitter every five minutes when the quiet becomes too overwhelming.
These are just a few thoughts. What other ideas do you have for finding intentional time to be quiet and spend time with God?
What On Earth Are You Watching?
"Have you ever watched the show _________?"
A friend of mine asked me this question recently about a television show that is particularly popular right now. I told him I'd never heard of it and asked him to describe it for me.
He went on to explain that the show centers around a man who works for the police department by day, but who moonlights as a vicious serial killer. And this lovely man is the protagonist of the show. Those who are familiar with the show recognize the plot description-- I'm intentionally omitting its name from this post, because I honestly don't want to motivate any new viewers to go check it out.
As he described some of the graphic, violent, highly sexualized imagery of the television show I began to feel my stomach turning. People actually watch this for entertainment? And they root for the homicidal maniac as he dishes out his sadistic brand of "justice"?
Now I am not normally a particularly squeamish or prudish individual. I watch a few TV shows, and enjoy a good suspense or action movie as much as the next person. I'm also not an alarmist -- I don't truly believe that watching a show about a serial killer will produce a nation of crazy maniacal murderers.
That having been said, I've found myself more and more sensitive to the violence and sexual perversion that often presents itself as entertainment in our culture. Perhaps it's a consequence of having children -- I can't watch fictional images of people being tortured, abused, murdered, or used without thinking, "That's somebody's child or father or mother or friend." I just don't find it entertaining anymore. Perhaps it's a consequence of the Holy Spirit's increased conviction in my heart -- I keep remembering passages like Philippians 4:8 that remind me to consider carefully what I think about.
Those who believe that what we put into our minds has no impact on our behavior or thought processes are simply wrong. I could cite study after study, and there are many (see parentstv.org if you want a few), but I don't really need to cite them. What we put into our minds affects how we think. How we think affects how we act.
No, I don't think shows like the one I've described will make me go kill somebody. And no, I don't think watching Desperate Housewives will make me a raging adulterer. But I do think that continually viewing graphic, bloody, heartless murder just might lower my ability to empathize with those who are suffering. I know that constantly looking at highly sexualized images of young men and women will lower my ability to view other people as anything more than objects for my personal gratification.
How do I know that? Because I speak with people nearly every week who are drowning in sexual addictions and pornographic images, which follow them around at school, at work, and at home. Such thoughts color their attitudes toward other people and deeply harm their ability to love and serve others as Christ does.
I don't need another new study -- I've seen the devastation.
So what is the point of all of this? Simply this: Are the shows you are watching, the sites you are surfing, and the music you are hearing consistent with Philippians 4:8?
Do the images you put in your head and your heart honor or degrade the image of God in your fellow human beings?
Are the heroes you cheer on dark and twisted anti-heroes, or are they men and women fighting for what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?
Would you invite Jesus to watch with you?
Guess what? If you know Him, He's there with you already.
Still sure you want to watch that?
Question for you: Do you set standards for what you choose to view or hear? What are they, and what sort of steps have you put in place to ensure that you adhere to them?
[Image via http://www.physorg.com/news162468111.html]