A Week With No Media (Didn't Kill Anybody)

For the unfamiliar, my church family recently took part in an 8 day media fast at the urging of our pastor. I posted about it HERE.. No social media, no non-work related computer usage, no news, no books, no movies, no television, well you get the point. We were expected to talk to people. Actual conversations. We were encouraged to read our bibles and pray more. How crazy is that? It was an opportunity to evaluate and build on our relationships with our families & friends, ourselves, and God. The horror!

At the end of the fast (6pm this past Sunday night), I half expected a power surge in the county as an entire congregation of people plugged back in to "The Matrix" to catch up on a weeks worth of Facebook happenings and all of the latest episodes of our favorite TV shows.

Maybe your thing is social media. I like to know what's going on in the lives of my friends & family and Facebook is a good platform to at least catch some highlights (and yes, lowlights).  But in the week I was offline, my non-church family, those not participating in the fast, made nearly 2000 posts according to the update I got from Zuckerberg's crew. That is 2000 "at lunch with my bestie's", "I'm bored's" and some slightly offensive and politically motivated humor.  I missed it all and lived to tell you about it.

For me it's "the news".  I have to admit that I have been obsessed with the news most of my adult life. If Matt Drudge doesn't update his headline every hour I used to find myself getting anxious. And if I read the news I would typically just get aggravated or so lost in it, clicking from one story to the next, that half a morning or more would go by, wasted. I knew what was going on here on Planet Earth, at least as it was reported, but I wasn't truly any better for it. I was immersed in it and I allowed it to steal something more precious to me than money. It stole my time. I guess stole is not the correct word. I willingly gave my time away and had little to show for it.

The classic movie character, Morpheus, said: "The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth", which may be more fact than science fiction. However, I submit that the "Matrix" I am concerned about is the one that occupies so much of our collective time that it prevents us from doing great and amazing things. It keeps us from reaching out to those we care about, hinders the following of our God-given dreams, it stunts our spiritual growth.

I think about all of the conversations I've missed, the writing I never got around to, the scriptures I could have studied and the relationships I could have built on. Is it wrong to follow the news? Absolutely not! Is it wrong to watch cats re-enact a scene from a James Bond movie? A much less emphatic, no. But, could I be a better man if I would give more time to living, to building relationships, and to developing my spirit-man? I strongly suspect I could. How about you?

The author is husband to an amazing wife, father to two beautifully grown daughters and papaw to two of the cutest and smartest kids ever created. He is currently the associate pastor at Tabernacle of Praise in Crestline, Ohio. At present, he is taking a break from his career as a Christian stand-up comic, however, if you would like to discuss him speaking to your church or group, feel free to contact him directly by e-mail at dwaynecastle40@yahoo.com or by phone at 419-961-1265. 

How Fast Does A Fast Go? (I'll tell you in a week)

My church is having special revival services next week so my pastor is calling the congregation to a fast. I am good with that because it's scriptural and it has proven to be beneficial, time and again. For those of you unfamiliar with fasting, it's a period of time where we deny our bodies certain things, typically food, for a period of time while we focus heavily on God with prayer, meditation, worship, etc. No big deal, I could skip a few meals if you know what I mean. Two birds, one stone and all that.But he throws a curve ball and says I can have whatever food or caffeinated beverages I want because this is a fast from media. Not a fast from "the" media as in my favorite news outlets but a fast from all media. No TV, radio, video games. No cd's, dvd's or Blu-Ray. Not even leisure reading. If it ain't work related, it ain't happening.

What kind of man is this pastor of mine? I mean, can't he just ask me to give up brussel sprouts or liver & onions? Why does he have to hit me where it hurts, right in the iPad? Really, no  Drudge Report? Nope, no Drudge. 

I know how cranky I can get when I give up food and caffeine. I wonder what kind of withdrawal symptoms I'll have when I am unable to read about all of the killings going on in the world or the scandals in our nations capitol. How will I cope with not seeing "the cutest cat video ever" on YouTube? How do you suppose my attitude will be when I am not infused with a daily dose of NCIS or Criminal Minds? 

Oh, I just realized I won't even get to read your Facebook post about how it's 3am and your mind is racing with so many thoughts that you are unable to sleep so you are up surfing the net. Wait a minute, you don't suppose..., nah, never mind. 

Anyway, hours and hours of stimulation and amusement, gone.  How am I supposed to know what's happening in the world or unwind after a stressful day? How will I keep up with the Kardashians? Okay, I don't follow the Kardashians, but you get my point. A whole week of no media. 

I may have to tear my clothes and pour ashes over my head. What will I do with all of that spare time? I might have to talk with my wife or visit a friend.  I may have to sit in silence for a time and give Him, God, an ear devoid of all of the sounds I'm constantly pumping into it. I may actually have to have a real conversation with someone. Oh, oh, I may actually be forced into reading my bible.

I guess I could look at it as if I am about to find out how "addicted" I am to all of these external sources. Or maybe, possibly, I could get into the spirit of this particular fast and go into it with the expectation that God will move in my life, my family and/or my church. I invite you to join me in this fast. I would love to read your experiences and thoughts about this fast, after it's over, of course.

The author is husband to an amazing wife, father to two beautifully grown daughters and papaw to two of the cutest and smartest kids ever created. He is currently the associate pastor at Tabernacle of Praise in Crestline, Ohio. At present, he is taking a break from his career as a Christian stand-up comic, however, if you would like to discuss him speaking to your church or group, feel free to contact him directly by e-mail at dwaynecastle40@yahoo.com or by phone at 419-961-1265.