Affections

My hubby and I started binging a show that is super riveting but filled with violent and freaky people doing some scary stuff.

You know, one of those shows that highlights the worst of our humanity but with good looking people.

The scenes are popping up in my head, and I keep wondering what will happen next.

Have you ever binge-watched a show and had it infiltrate your subconscious like that?

Have you had the scenes play out in your dreams (or nightmares), and you find yourself thinking about it periodically throughout the day?

Have you ever had flashbacks pop into your mind from shows or reels as if they were part of your life's experience?

Kinda freaks me out when I think about it.

I wonder if our sweet brains can truly differentiate reality from fantasy.

Does what we absorb with our senses while plopped on a couch affect us and alter us in ways we aren't even aware of?

Constantly absorbing negative or violent things cannot be good for us. We can probably all nod our heads in agreement on that.

I started going down a research rabbit hole about the effects of media on our mental health, but honestly, it freaked me out, and it's too nice of a day to get funky.

Without citing a source, what we consume affects us.

Obvi.

If we are what we eat, can we become what we watch?

Yikes.

Looking at my recently watched list, I'm either going to become a cowboy, green witch, detective, or a seafaring way finder.

And that's only the ones I'm telling you about.

Part of the journey of the Lent season is confessing the things that keep us from God, and when I think about the time I spend absorbing, if I may say crudely - crap, then I feel a confession may be in order.

God,

I confess to you that I have spent the time you have given me absorbing things that are not good for me.

I waste hours, days, weeks, and months running out the clock (even faster with Daylight Savings) staring at screens.

Forgive me for aiming my eyes, ears, heart, and mind on things that are not good for me.

Forgive me for filling my time with things that exacerbate the darkness and keeps me from your love and light: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

Please help me raise my head and re-enter the world of human-ness and shine your light through humility, generosity, modesty, kindness, self-control, forgiveness, and diligence.

Please help me avoid temptations that lure me into dark thoughts, confusion, and fear and instead seek to hear your voice and wisdom.

Don't let me forget the undeniable truth that what I absorb affects me.

Please help me not forget how fragile this life is and that every second counts.

Amen.

Alright, now that I've made you stare at this screen for a few minutes, I hope the absorption of this little post has had a positive effect.

Now, let's put down our phones, close our laptops, turn off our gadgets, adjust our clocks and get out there to absorb some goodness and make the most of this gorgeous day we have been given.

PS - you have no idea how often I have questioned the choice of effect vs. affect in this post. I can only hope I effectively chose correctly.

Proverbs 4: 20-27

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Galatians 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Against such things, there is no law.