I think this is why we spend so much time with TV and the internet

It’s because we have a purpose

We were made to be fruitful, and multiply, and have authority over things in our domain, and to connect with people. You see that in the first couple of chapters of Genesis.

But it’s hard work

Not just physically hard, but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. It’s work to engage and think. It’s risky to take action, initiate, and not just sit there. It’s risky because it’s unpredictable and might not happen.

And something in us fights the work and the purpose

The thing that happened in the garden – the fall – put into us the urge to disengage and avoid what God made us for, so that we won’t do it.

That urge to disengage and avoid needs a cover to hide behind

TV and the internet (and a million other vagrant amusements and addictions) engage just enough to occupy that part of you that’s designed to pursue your purpose. It feels like something’s happening, but it’s not.

You hear the noise of the engine running, but the car isn’t going anywhere. The noise gives your inner Ferrari an excuse to stay in neutral.

When I read The Gulag Archipelago, I kept wondering why the Russians went to the effort of mock trials and verdicts. Why didn’t they ship their enemies off to labor camps to start with and avoid all the trouble of rigging and manufacturing evidence?

It was to give the people a reason to believe the lie.

The Russians knew that only a small excuse is needed to kick in our default setting of disengaging and avoiding: “See, they had a trial – it was fair…”

Your purpose, hope, and calling require engagement and action

Engagement and action are looking for an excuse to cool it

Vagrant amusements love to derail engagement and action

Just as alcohol is risky for an alcoholic, so too much TV, the internet, books, food, shopping, sports, music, travel, and etc. are risky to hope.

They deaden hope and muffle its voice

Took me three days to write this. Again, talking to myself.

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Thanks for reading. A Scary Hope eBook is coming, probably by Christmas, unless I get sidetracked by vagrant amusements. To start at the beginning of the series, click HERE. To subscribe to receive each new post for free, click HERE.

Comments

[Joy Manoleros]

Gary , I think this is one of your most powerful posts, because it exposes the enemy in a way I know I hadn't thought of. Sure, we all know the TV, internet, etc can be time-suckers. We joke about it. But being a sneaky way to keep from diving into our authentic selves? Whoa... didn't see that coming. But my spirit resonates with YES!!! Thanks for shedding the light!!