The Illuminated Tightroper is a description of a Christian in this world, illuminated by the Holy Spirit and walking a tightrope: living in this world while a purveyor of light from the Unseen Kingdom of God. It IS a tightrope act but fortunately, we have the best "spotter" as well as net, in our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we fail frequently, but who NEVER fails to keep us walking until He brings us safely home.
Post # 1: Confessions of a Media Addict...OR Working toward Balance
Hello, my name is Jeannie and I am a media addict. Ok, so there are no “Media Anonymous” groups
out there, but maybe there should be. Or
a “Media Watcher,” organization, more
aptly, akin to Weight Watchers. While not
necessary for life, like food is, we are wired as human beings to be social
creatures. As such, we seek to be
connected to others. Unless there is
some kind of social or psychological impairment that causes us to cut ourselves
off from the rest of humanity, we are pretty much tuned in to the world around
us and we seek others out, both person to person and through our senses. For many of us,
however, our senses can get overloaded. Knowing when, how or to what degree to unplug from time to time, for our overall health, is something I know I need to look into. Can anybody reading this relate?
I’ve known people over the years who
don’t watch television, and I admire that.
I know that I would get a whole lot more done each day if I uplugged mine
more often. But then there is still radio, music via ipod, cd, Pandora,
satellite …. And there’s the
cellphone, email, Facebook, chat rooms, YouTube, Instagram, video games… It really does seem like the options are
nearly endless! I think there really IS such a thing as "too much of a good thing!"
When do we stop and think? When do we take time to center ourselves,
pray (as Christians) and get quiet
enough to listen to that “still, small voice” for the guidance, encouragement, conviction and peace that Jesus promised
those who follow Him by His Spirit living inside us. As with ANY communication modality we have to
“tune in” and be on the correct “frequency” in order to connect. We are called to a relationship with our God
and Savior, which involves a 2-way dialogue throughout our days. It’s hard to have a dialogue when your focus
is everywhere else but that relationship.
If we don’t take the time to set goals and live intentionally – make
specific decisions for our lives – decide to live by certain principles and
values, to work towards something, and live for something bigger than we are
- we will spend our lives on what I call
“Auto pilot” – and then wonder (at some point) why we seem to be just “spinning
our wheels.” Somehow I don’t think this
was what Jesus had in mind when he said that he came “that they (we) might have
life and have it to the full.” (John
10:10b). Is that how I would describe MY life? Most of the time, I confess, it is NOT. I wonder how much of
that is related to not taking to time to “unplug” from the NOISE of this world
and take the time to PLUG into the “still waters” that David talked about in
Ps.23. But we need to LET ourselves be led to them if we are
to experience them!
Is anyone else reading this up for a
challenge? Are you – like me – ready to
be led to those “still waters” in order to listen to the “still, small voice”
of our Shepherd and begin to live the
life we’ve been given to the full as Jesus said He came to make possible? We don’t have to start with a full day – or
even half a day. How about 15 minutes or
a half hour once a day, to start?
Preferably the same time each day, but don’t be too legalistic about it
– days change. Yet if we don’t have some
consistency, we probably won’t stick
with it. I’m challenging myself with
this. I know I have been consistently
inconsistent so far, but believe that this NEEDS to become a high priority if I
am to avoid wasting much of the rest of my life and instead living with joy,
gratitude and fulfillment in the time that remains. If you feel the same, then come, let’s walk
together on this narrow road that can make all the difference!
