I recently gave up watching TV - not for any religious reason or sacrifice or anything like that. I just decided to stop, mainly because most of what’s on is a bunch of garbage anyway, and even some things that you think are going to be good (the History and/or Discovery channels come to mind), they turn out to have an anti-Catholic twist.
I am absolutely amazed at how my spiritual life has improved since I stopped watching TV! There’s this whole new space for God to fill up, which I never even knew was there.
I put the TV on a few days ago after not having watched it since around September. I wanted to catch the news to see if they had anything to say about this big fire around the corner. Then I started reading, and forgot to shut it off after the news. CSI came on next, and I always liked the show, so I watched it. While it was enjoyable, when I shut the TV off I was amazed at how my spirit felt. I don’t even know if I can describe it… I felt as if my spirit and soul were saddened, as if I had wasted valuable time, as if I felt the emptiness of all those who fill up their empty spaces with things such as TV, or work, or booze, or sex.
I’m not saying I’ll never ever watch a TV again. I’m not saying it’s easy in this impossibly busy world. But I am saying it’s vitally necessary. Find what’s right for you and do it.
If you work outside the home, try to spend part of your lunch break in a nearby church, or in a park if one is nearby.
If you’re young and like to party or go to bars, give that up one night a week and give that night to God.
If you’re home with kids (and they’re old enough that you can do this), set the timer and tell them that this is Mommy’s “bubble bath alone time” and they are not to disturb you under any circumstances unless one of them is bleeding! Then, lock yourself in the bathroom and give that time to God, bubble bath or not.
Be creative! God understands, and He loves when we try to grow closer to Him. The more we try, the more help He gives. Trust Him. He’ll show you the way.
*“I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus, I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my eye could see only Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus… I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart…” *- St. Gemma Galgani
