TV Fast

Have you ever tried fasting? I haven't done it enough. It seems as though in the scriptures fasting took place when there was something major going on in a person's life. There was a big decision to make, a trip to go on, or other big events that needed special thought and attention.

Fasting hasn't been a part of my life for a number of reasons. We have never focused on it much. We have never been taught the reasons for it. We love to eat too much. And basically I think we are a society that doesn't like to give up our conveniences. We are also a society of consumers. We live to consume product. Our daily lives are "consumed" in consumerism. From shaving cream to sour cream to ice cream, we love to consume.

Who of us ever thinks of giving things up? Well this week, from Friday to Friday, our family is taking a break from the TV screen! That's right a TV fast.

It started as a punishment for misbehavior in our kids. I know what your thinking--"Preacher's kids don't misbehave!" If you believe that I have a submarine with screened windows I'll sell you too. Anyway, while punishing the children and grounding them from the TV for a week, I decided that it would be good for the whole family to be without it. So, I made the fatherly proclamation, "No TV until next week at this time!"

That was Friday and this is Monday and I'll have to admit it is a bit strange. I have caught myself coming in and thinking about turning on the set. It is such an automatic thing for us all. In just three days I have discovered already just how much we are on automatic when it comes to the tube.

However, I have already discovered that we talk more, we don't argue as much and we are learning to be kinder to each other.

"Stay tuned" (see even my language is bassed on TV) for more updates on the progress of this week.