After almost thirty years I finally broke an addiction that would often leave me
paralyzed and helpless. On any given day I could be immobilized by this addiction for
hours on end. I would just sit and stare into nothingness in a euphoric state oblivious
to the world. I suffered from one of the most debilitating addictions in the United
States today. I was and still am, once an addict always an addict, addicted to
television.
Almost every household in America, except mine now, has at least one television
set if not two or three. This box which I like to call “Satan’s tabernacle” usually has
the most prominent place in our homes. We place it in the center of our family area
and gather everyone around it to sit, stare, and stop thinking. With this box in place
we invite the entire world, good and bad, into our homes to entertain us. From the
comfort of our living room we watch a world slowly sinking into moral decay and
pretend we aren’t on the ship. We say that all those things happening on television
happen to other people as our families stop communicating, our children start
experimenting, and our neighbors seem more suspicious. The entire world seems like
a sex crazed, materialistic, God-less place because these items and ideas are
profitable. In reality television creates unthinking zombies ready to absorb the life
coming through the pixels instead of embracing the life given by the Creator. How
else can you explain “professional” wrestling?
My family watched an average, a high average of three hours of television per
week. Yes this included one sporting event. This is about half the daily average of
most Americans according to recent polls.
The major factor for my addiction being broken was my fifteen month old son. He
is a typical toddler with enough energy to power three states. He is exactly what Dr.
James Dobson of Focus on the Family describes as, “all throttle and no rudder.” If
he isn’t climbing up the walls he is tearing books off the shelves or scattering toys to
strategic toe jamming locations. He is on the move non-stop from morning till
evening. On one particular evening I was tired and thought it might be fun to sit down
and watch a movie with him. I chose one of my favorites, Toy Story. I plopped the
video in and laid down on the floor as my son sped by at mach 3. When the screen
finally grabbed his attention he stopped in his tracks and his hands fell to his sides.
Centered in front of the screen he just stared. Most parents would have kicked
themselves for not thinking of putting the video in sooner to baby-sit so they could get
some things done. I on the other hand literally wept. After about three minutes I
suggested that we turn the movie off as I fought back the tears. I an instant I had
turned my energetic son into an unthinking, uncreative zombie. The little boy who
pretended to cook with a wooden spoon and a plastic bowl had been hypnotized by
the tiny pixels of light . I realized instantly it had the same effect on me.
Many people may argue and say it was a rash decision because there are good
programs on television. I could not agree more. There are good programs on
television but we must ask ourselves why we call them good. We say some
programs are good because they standout in such contrast against the background of
trash that is so prevalent on television. The Discovery Channel’s documentary on how
we evolved from single cell organisms is good programming compared to watching
those still in the evolutionary process on Jerry Springer. The Hitler Channel …er I
mean the History Channel is far more educational than MTV’s The Ozbournes. The
point is that these programs stand out because of the contrast. We can not see
stars unless it is dark but when it is dark we can’t see the world around us. In the
same way these few stars on television stand out because of the darkness. But we
have to ask ourselves what are we missing in the world around us by staring at a few
stars in the dark. Our family, our faith, our purpose in life?
Maybe you aren’t ready to throw the television in the trash yet. Try weaning
yourself and your family slowly. Fill that time usually spent in front of the television or
worse the “game system” with something more worth while and meaningful and do
things together as a family. Try being creative so you can help your family learn,
grow and develop. Our family goes for walks, we play in the yard, ride bikes,
wrestle, read together, play games and cook. If you feel like really rebelling against
the world consider reading the Bible or praying the Rosary together.
Ultimately communication is the major factor of any relationship whether it be God,
your spouse, or your children. If you aren’t communicating with your family the world
will through the television and you probably won’t like what is being communicated.
I spend an inordinate amount of time at work. The precious little time I have at
home I want to spend getting to know my wife and sons better and furthering our
walk with Christ. So, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord not Adelphia,
Time Warner, CNN, MTV or NBC
paralyzed and helpless. On any given day I could be immobilized by this addiction for
hours on end. I would just sit and stare into nothingness in a euphoric state oblivious
to the world. I suffered from one of the most debilitating addictions in the United
States today. I was and still am, once an addict always an addict, addicted to
television.
Almost every household in America, except mine now, has at least one television
set if not two or three. This box which I like to call “Satan’s tabernacle” usually has
the most prominent place in our homes. We place it in the center of our family area
and gather everyone around it to sit, stare, and stop thinking. With this box in place
we invite the entire world, good and bad, into our homes to entertain us. From the
comfort of our living room we watch a world slowly sinking into moral decay and
pretend we aren’t on the ship. We say that all those things happening on television
happen to other people as our families stop communicating, our children start
experimenting, and our neighbors seem more suspicious. The entire world seems like
a sex crazed, materialistic, God-less place because these items and ideas are
profitable. In reality television creates unthinking zombies ready to absorb the life
coming through the pixels instead of embracing the life given by the Creator. How
else can you explain “professional” wrestling?
My family watched an average, a high average of three hours of television per
week. Yes this included one sporting event. This is about half the daily average of
most Americans according to recent polls.
The major factor for my addiction being broken was my fifteen month old son. He
is a typical toddler with enough energy to power three states. He is exactly what Dr.
James Dobson of Focus on the Family describes as, “all throttle and no rudder.” If
he isn’t climbing up the walls he is tearing books off the shelves or scattering toys to
strategic toe jamming locations. He is on the move non-stop from morning till
evening. On one particular evening I was tired and thought it might be fun to sit down
and watch a movie with him. I chose one of my favorites, Toy Story. I plopped the
video in and laid down on the floor as my son sped by at mach 3. When the screen
finally grabbed his attention he stopped in his tracks and his hands fell to his sides.
Centered in front of the screen he just stared. Most parents would have kicked
themselves for not thinking of putting the video in sooner to baby-sit so they could get
some things done. I on the other hand literally wept. After about three minutes I
suggested that we turn the movie off as I fought back the tears. I an instant I had
turned my energetic son into an unthinking, uncreative zombie. The little boy who
pretended to cook with a wooden spoon and a plastic bowl had been hypnotized by
the tiny pixels of light . I realized instantly it had the same effect on me.
Many people may argue and say it was a rash decision because there are good
programs on television. I could not agree more. There are good programs on
television but we must ask ourselves why we call them good. We say some
programs are good because they standout in such contrast against the background of
trash that is so prevalent on television. The Discovery Channel’s documentary on how
we evolved from single cell organisms is good programming compared to watching
those still in the evolutionary process on Jerry Springer. The Hitler Channel …er I
mean the History Channel is far more educational than MTV’s The Ozbournes. The
point is that these programs stand out because of the contrast. We can not see
stars unless it is dark but when it is dark we can’t see the world around us. In the
same way these few stars on television stand out because of the darkness. But we
have to ask ourselves what are we missing in the world around us by staring at a few
stars in the dark. Our family, our faith, our purpose in life?
Maybe you aren’t ready to throw the television in the trash yet. Try weaning
yourself and your family slowly. Fill that time usually spent in front of the television or
worse the “game system” with something more worth while and meaningful and do
things together as a family. Try being creative so you can help your family learn,
grow and develop. Our family goes for walks, we play in the yard, ride bikes,
wrestle, read together, play games and cook. If you feel like really rebelling against
the world consider reading the Bible or praying the Rosary together.
Ultimately communication is the major factor of any relationship whether it be God,
your spouse, or your children. If you aren’t communicating with your family the world
will through the television and you probably won’t like what is being communicated.
I spend an inordinate amount of time at work. The precious little time I have at
home I want to spend getting to know my wife and sons better and furthering our
walk with Christ. So, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord not Adelphia,
Time Warner, CNN, MTV or NBC
| The Exorcism of my Television |