TV is Eating My Brain

When I moved into my new apartment at the beginning of September, I decided to cable TV along with my cable internet connection. I haven’t had cable for seven years, so this was an exciting prospect for me.

I’ve noticed over these last months that I’ve felt less and less productive. I don’t seem to get as much done at home and I feel like my creative energy is virtually gone—I don’t write or journal nearly as much as I used to. Sadly, it took me quite some time to realize what was different: Cable. Yup – TLC, Food Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, they are all sucking up my productivity and creativity under the guise of teaching me more. I need to develop more responsible TV habits or the cable has got to end. So, this week I’m going to try keeping my remote on top of my very tall bookshelf, so I have to think for a second before I transform myself into a full time couch potato.

Gotta Love This Place

So, I’ve had a few comic relief moments this weekend that make up some of the reasons why I like living in New York—it keeps me laughing.

Reason #1

R train on Saturday night. A gang of high school kids come on. One girl was so quotable. Just three lines I overheard with muffled giggles:

"If we could do that it would be the best liturgical dance ever!"

"Belgians? I love Belgians! I mean I really love Belgians!"

"This is like, deepest, darkest Brooklyn!"

Reason #2

I’m walking through the NYC pre-marathon crowds on my way to the train. It’s not even 10 in the morning but the steps of the local funeral home are full of marathon watchers drinking beer. Yep, funeral home, sports spectators, and morning beer—gotta love it.

To build or to go? That is the question.

Over the summer I listened to a sermon from Pastor Joe and the Vision Church www.visionchurch.org. I had heard a lot about his messages, so I decided to download one and see what the buzz was about.

I don’t remember the title of the message, or even the passage on which it was based. What I do remember is his statement that in our relationships with other people we have a choice to build their crosses for them or to go to the cross for them. He was making a point about how we welcome people into the church—especially those who are different from the rest. We can either stand back and judge them (build their cross) or take a risk and build a relationship with them, possibly risking our own reputation in the process (go to the cross). It was a powerful image for me: literally constructing the cross for others as I judge them, or being willing to go there myself out of love—the love that God gives me.

At the same time, I was being challenged by the actions and choices of some people around me. I had been quite comfortable in the saddle on my high horse where I sat in smug judgment: Can you believe her? What was he thinking? I would never do that! Pastor Joe’s words knocked me clean off. I realized that I was comfortably sitting on a hillside with my pile of nails and wood happily hammering crosses together without thought for that person as someone God loves too.