Let’s start here. I love entertainment and there is nothing wrong with being entertained. That being said, I feel like I need to take a few moments to talk about what just might be my word for this year. That word is focus. You see over the last few weeks I have become increasingly aware of how easily distracted I have become. There are times where I find it really hard to focus in all areas of life, and mostly the culprit is entertainment. Whether it’s a game on my phone, or social media posts, YouTube videos or even binge watching TV, it’s easy to get caught up in it, and while it is entertaining, I also realize it is cutting into my very limited time—the time I need to reach personal goals, not to mention my God-given call.
Am I going to strip away all entertainment? Of course not. There are times where it can be very inspirational, but therein is a key. I can’t speak for you, but the things I let into my head tend to stick with me, so it is important that I feed myself things I want to stick with me. I’m reminded of the verse that says, 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)This is a great gauge for entertainment. Ask yourself, will this diversion, put me in a better place after I have consumed it, or will it take me into negativity or even sin. For me social media can be a trap. I can read some of the things that happen there, and it will put my mood into a tailspin. I don’t need that in my life, and I’m guessing you don’t need it either.
Needless to say there is much more to be considered. For the most part, I am capable of making good choices and discerning good from bad, and I make pretty good choices most of the time, but there’s that word again “time.” I have goals and dreams and a calling to be considered and entertainment can really eat up a lot of time. So one of the things I need to ask myself are “Will this thing, whatever it is, help me toward the accomplishment of these goals? Will it encourage me or inspire me, or is it just a waste of time?”
I also have to be a little careful with how I analyze this. I recently picked up a book I planned to read for my doctoral research, but as I began to read, I realized it is really off topic for what I am working on. Still I kept reading, because while it doesn’t fit that project, God has been using it to illuminate some things I have struggled with my entire life. So while it may not fit the project, it is meeting me in what may be my place of greatest need, and so I continue. This is a really good book and an interesting read. It is entertaining but it is something more. If I put the principles I am learning in it’s pages to work, it just might bring me some healing that I have needed for a very long time.
So again I am not saying we have to live lives that are totally devoid of entertainment. Entertainment can help us unwind and bring us some real joy. What I am saying is you only have so many hours in a day to crush your goals and accomplish your dreams, the hours we spend we will never get back, so let’s be sure to invest them wisely. We need a lot more in life than entertainment.
AMOKArts 