Certainly you’ve heard the adage, “you are what you eat.” And, our computer geeks are fond of saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” The point being, in both of these sayings . . something becomes in large part the sum of what was put into it. Good health comes from a good diet. A dependable computer program only works with good data input. (The bible was on to this when 3,000 years ago it said, “You reap what you sow.”)
It works like that with our spiritual life too. We are greatly shaped by what we think, hear, see, and touch. What we allow to enter through our senses creates the raw data for the kind of person we become.
So, for example:
- Child psychologists tell us that hours spent watching violent images on television elevates the likeliness of children acting out violently.
- Constant attention to a hand-held game boy or ipod inhibits a young person’s ability to interact with real people.
- Non-stop images of negative, argumentative relationships create the impression that this is how people naturally interact. Yelling, whining, cursing, name calling becomes the norm. Talk Radio is full of this stuff.
- Pornographic web sites demean the human spirit and unleash a powerful darkness.
- Pretty much any television called “reality TV” has little grasp of what’s really real.
Why not put a stop to the “garbage in, garbage out” syndrome? We don’t have to accept from the media world what it calls “reality”. Why not dedicate ourselves to “Goodness in, Goodness out”?
What does this mean? It means putting a guard over what we let our eyes see and our ears hear. I’m being literal here. Change the channel or turn off the TV when it becomes crass or trashy. Walk away from conversations that are only meant to hurt others reputations. Put away the electronic games or instruments when people are present to talk to.
And in their place? . . .
- Great music
- Good books and reading
- Cook something!
- Visit someone lonely
- Take in the world of nature
- Good conversation and listening
- Hobbies are great.
- At least 10 minutes of prayer each day (in a chair . . . talking/listening to God)
- Good TV or movies
I hope you are enjoying your summer days. This is a time to renew yourself with family and fun things. I hope you dedicate yourself to celebrating LIFE!!
Fr. Tim
