The Reality of Television
Sometimes, relationships with television programs and movies can become pretty co-dependent. How's yours?
I now know that I spent far too much time in front of those rectangular boxes—missing out on so much around me. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I enjoy them still (watching movies, athletics [the Olympics were amazing this year!], or the occasional Discovery Channel program), and I love quoting those old shows with others...remembering back to 'the good old days' of t.v.
But from past experience and observing the current cultural affinity for it, I believe that television has become the security blanket for a generation of adults. Rather...for generations of people, young and old.
I could point to many different indicators that show how this medium manifests this truth, but I'll focus on the one that is arguably the most ridiculous.
Reality television.
When I was growing up in the 90's, Survivor began it's assault on our country—showing us manipulated scenarios, not about people we know in real life, but about people we incorrectly think we know. Instead of caring about them, we were typically driven just to see something new, or 'crazy', happen to them. This served to ignite the flame of 'reality' television that had previously only been MTV's Real World and Road Rules and turning it into the inferno that now engulfs modern day television.
Nowadays, there are reality programs for everything: parenting, dating, life-style change, following the lives of others, and the list goes ooooonnn.
I might argue that most of these shows are bad, they may not all be. I'll, occasionally, catch a few minutes of one of my roommates' favorite hillbilly hoedown or faux-dating programs, and there are probably some redeemable moments in some of these shows, somewhere.
I don't want to exclusively judge the content of each of these numerous programs that I've not seen in entirety, so I won't. However...
...the reality is: if you're not careful—television can take away your ability to live your life. It can take away your sense of adventure or growth or whatever, for the sake of watching others partake in their lives—be they 'real' or scripted.
It's ok if you like television shows—I'm not condemning the t.v. But, partake in moderation. For, these programs are adept at creeping into your agenda. Into your dreams, your thoughts. But don't you let those pseudo-realities become your reality.
Let your life be the biggest reality program you're engaged in. And the more time you step out from in front of the box, the more time you have to dig your toes in the sand, to plant with care the seeds of service for those who have needs around you, and to water the relationships that are already placed in your life.
But you don't have to take my word for it...simply feel the difference in your heart when you do step fully into your story—lived with true purpose, regardless of genre.
