As a society our view of freedom is very skewed. We want freedom to mean no one gets to tell me what to do or I do as I please but in actuality freedom simply means we have a choice. We are free to make choices that shape our world daily. Even with all this “freedom” we still feel trapped. That is because our choices in freedom are usually attached to the expectations of “society”, our family, or our closest friends. Our freedom is shackled from our ankles to the ankles of those we desire to spend time with. We desire the freedom to be like others. That lifestyle plays right into the entertainment industry. We adapt our dress from the era, our vernacular, and our views.
As technology and “times” advance, the provocations are less than subtle as they once were. There are hints of sex, sexuality, and other forms of vulgarity laced in music, television, and even cartoons. Even shows deemed as “family shows” are sketchy. Cartoons are created with messages that go over children’s heads gearing towards the intellect of adults. My question is why is such humor needed in a show that is geared towards children.
I truly believe that even these hints of ideas plant seeds into our children. As a selective parent I often feel stifled because there are limited newly introduced “kid” movies that I can safely allow my kids to see. Even Disney movies have to be closely monitored these days. Over the past year there have only been approximately 2 movies I have felt comfortable taking my children to see at the movies. Even so when those shows are turned into series I sometimes have to restrict their view of them as well.
So often we deem TV and music as just entertainment; a skewed illusion. However, both create a “moment”. A moment is all it takes to arouse an emotion in our fleshly human nature. A certain feel of the sun can evoke a moment/sensation/arousal that stirs up an urge in me to want to go shopping. A moment in time, a thought, a memory can evoke in me the desire to go to a specific time in my past. A smell, a look, a “hurt”. We are people of feelings and emotions and entertainment is meant to evoke a certain feeling or emotion. Often times we are unaware of our vulnerabilities that are stroked by these very instances of entertainment.
Our desire to be loved and belong lends quickly to conformation. Our human nature is so inept to the core of our need for acceptance that we do not even notice the impressions these forms of art play into our lives. We want so deeply to believe that we can control the influences the outside world has on us. We want to believe we are stronger than the seeds that are planted in our minds. But how can a plant grow into anything other than the seed that is nurtured in it’s roots? How can we grow into anything other than the “ideas” we feed ourselves on a daily basis. If our bodies produce an outward appearance based on the food we eat, we can conclude that the same is true of our character. It can only produce outward behaviors based on the elements (books, tv, music) we use to nurture it as well.
So while we are free to choose what we feed into our psych, we don’t necessarily get to choose how much influence that particular medium will hold on our thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Hope & Anchor Counseling 