The television fast, along with a break from internet surfing, has created a stillness in my life that is startling. I see now how driven I was by the oftentimes meaningless noise of the world. The gulf between my spirit and God's was widened one ripple by every note of cacophony from those two instruments, the television and the internet. Do not get me wrong. I love them both. I see the great potential for good in them both. And, incidentally, I am allowing myself to hear good Bible teaching through the internet while I am "fasting." I am a naturally curious person and love nothing more than to sit down with a cup of coffee and research some obscure place, person or animal until my eyes are red with fatigue. Learning is good...therefore the internet has good in it! I have made friends worldwide through Facebook. The fast from both media outlets came as a result of my soul becoming overburdened by the information overload, my time becoming consumed by an addiction to said overload, and my heart leaning hard toward the world and away from my Savior, Jesus Christ. I just could not hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit anymore. It was so much easier to plug into an intriguing news magazine on the computer than to face what He might be telling me is my next assignment in life. A world-class procrastinator with all of the hallmarks of ADHD, I am so easy to distract it is mind-bending.
There is so much that needs pruning in my life. I pray that this time of relative "stillness" (electronically) will help me to draw closer to Christ. As I get closer to his loving heart, I pray obedience is the outflow. I foresee a much fuller life, albeit much quieter. I am the queen of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but I have not ruled out the idea of making all of this permanent. Some addictions are so gripping that walking away from the source is really all that works. Maybe I could set a schedule that would allow some of my favorite, clean programming in...after all, Steve Searles (the "Bear Whisperer") told us that several hours have already been taped for new episodes to be aired soon. Can't miss that, right? God has brought me back, again and again, to the idea that moderation in all things (save serving, pursuing and knowing Him) is the path to true enjoyment! I think it is so interesting that once I closed my ebay account, thereby halting the bizarre stockpiling of latch hook kits -- five years worth, I believe -- up comes the very kit I wanted the most and had sought in vain. I was alerted to it by a friend in Australia, went onto ebay as a guest and purchased it. Each time I put a piece of yarn into it, I realized that God's design is best. A life lived in moderation is one filled with gratitude. I am thankful for my "Country Road" kit...which depicts a rustic village with small white church, fall leaves gently falling in the foreground. A peaceful scene which reflects the greater peace in my heart once I stopped the maniacal buying. Stillness has its virtures. I'll keep you all posted.
There is so much that needs pruning in my life. I pray that this time of relative "stillness" (electronically) will help me to draw closer to Christ. As I get closer to his loving heart, I pray obedience is the outflow. I foresee a much fuller life, albeit much quieter. I am the queen of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but I have not ruled out the idea of making all of this permanent. Some addictions are so gripping that walking away from the source is really all that works. Maybe I could set a schedule that would allow some of my favorite, clean programming in...after all, Steve Searles (the "Bear Whisperer") told us that several hours have already been taped for new episodes to be aired soon. Can't miss that, right? God has brought me back, again and again, to the idea that moderation in all things (save serving, pursuing and knowing Him) is the path to true enjoyment! I think it is so interesting that once I closed my ebay account, thereby halting the bizarre stockpiling of latch hook kits -- five years worth, I believe -- up comes the very kit I wanted the most and had sought in vain. I was alerted to it by a friend in Australia, went onto ebay as a guest and purchased it. Each time I put a piece of yarn into it, I realized that God's design is best. A life lived in moderation is one filled with gratitude. I am thankful for my "Country Road" kit...which depicts a rustic village with small white church, fall leaves gently falling in the foreground. A peaceful scene which reflects the greater peace in my heart once I stopped the maniacal buying. Stillness has its virtures. I'll keep you all posted.
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