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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: TV (10/04/18)
The scenario: Immobile five-year-old sitting with legs “crisscross applesauce” about 12 inches from the TV screen, eyes like vacant saucers, “glued to the tube.” Ear drums homed in to the TV audio, blatantly discriminating against any alternative sound. Every few minutes, a seemingly disembodied giggle floats from his direction.

Where I’m from, we call this the “AC stare.” And it actually has nothing to do with an air conditioner. “AC” is an informal abbreviation for the name of my church denomination, Apostolic Christian. As a fairly fundamental Anabaptist-rooted church, we have traditionally avoided regular television exposure. In other words, many of those in my generation grew up without television. (This was back when TV was the only conduit for bringing media into the home, aside from the radio!)

Anyway, I remember in school the excitement elicited by the mere mention of watching a movie. I mean to tell you, watching any kind of video/show/movie/reel-to-reel (just kidding, I’m not QUITE that old) was a momentous occasion. And no one in the class enjoyed it more than the AC kids. While numerous classmates quickly got bored or distracted, the wonder of the moving picture completely captivated us. It could have been a video about cells, nuclei, and mitochondria, but to judge our response you would have thought it was Disney’s latest release.

When my son reached age 2 or 3, he began to sit still long enough to enjoy watching a screen. Every so often I would let him watch Praise Baby. (If you have even seen one of these, there is not a whole lot of action!) One of the first times he watched it I observed his reaction and got my belly-laugh for the day. This kid was displaying a textbook case of the AC stare. All the symptoms were there: rigidity, laser focus, eyes the size of dinner plates. The house could have been crumbling around him, and he would have continued to gaze rapturously upon the screen.

Maybe this is a stretch, and maybe it’s a bit trite. But in any case, while chuckling over this anecdote, I couldn’t help but think of what the Bible says in Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (NIV).

Let’s let our lives display the symptoms of fixing our eyes on Christ. Let’s be unmovable, undistracted, and wide-eyed with wonder as we take in our Savior, who is worthy of our total preoccupation!
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This article has been read 611 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Bonnie Kronberger 
10/11/18
I loved this piece. It brought back memories of the thrill of an occasional television show at the neighbors house while growing up. Well written! Captured my attention. Loved the ending and spiritual connection.
Trudy Newell
10/12/18
Well written. I loved the application drawn from this piece! Thanks.
Noel Mitaxa 
10/12/18
A few memories here, but times have surely changed. I like your devotional wrap-up.
C D Swanson 
10/13/18
Loved this entry.
Well done and so true!
Blessings~
Linda Berg
10/14/18
I remember the AC stare in friends who did not have access to a television, when on occasion they saw on.

Connecting this to the scripture about Fixing our Eyes on Jesus is so appropriate.

When it comes to how we spend our time, I'm afraid we all to often, don't really Fix our eyes on Jesus.

Excellent application.
Gloria Pierre Dean
10/14/18
Well done and very valid to life today.Thank you. Fixing our eyes on Him is so vital.
Larry Whittington
10/15/18
Again, the history of TV, according to some, has been revealed.

We have to be careful that we don't get caught up with the "next great thing".

Good writing.