Giving up Television to Save your Soul

[Maria Margaret]

What would Heaven think, looking down on you, watching you, as you watch. . . and react, to the images, that you are the cause of, you are responsible for, being displayed in your home? Entering into your memories? Having a place in Creation.. and the history of your life. . .

The record of which, will always be there. . .

That is quite powerful. I personally gave up T.V. towards the end of last year. Sometimes, if my family is downstairs with me and they turn the T.V. on, I won't leave the room...but I'll turn it off as soon as they leave.

 I find that life is much more peaceful without worrying about which shows will come on at what time. It makes you reconsider what is really important. Is it really important that I'm home at 7 to watch show 'so and so?' Is it more important than my family and obligations? My prayers?

Also, I find that it is extremely easy to become...obsessive about fictional stories. They can easily consume one's thoughts and feelings. I have even very gradually started to turn away from secular, fictional books to only religious books. I found that with fictional books, just like T.V. shows, I became obsessive about the story. It would invade my drawings, my thoughts, I would think if I was in the story...Instead of thinking of Our Lord.

I honestly feel as though Shin hit the spot on what we watch, and even what we read. How would we act if we knew that Heaven can see every single thing we do and every reaction we have? How would we act if we remembered that Our Guardian Angel sees everything we do and relays it to The Lord Almighty? I'm sure people would strive to be much more holy.

We don't do bad things when our parents our around, but what about Our Heavenly Father? Isn't he always watching?

[Shin]

I am very happy to read this.

Not only the television, but the books. . .

 

Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. . .

This is how it should be.  

The holy and clean life. I wish to say more about the good of giving up the books too. And how helpful this is for the soul and against the fallen angels.

Thanks be to the Lord Our Shepherd from whom all blessings flow, for his graces.. God keep us poor souls.

[Patricia]

Reginator, I liked reading the story.  This is drawing me very close to getting rid of cable. I have downsized it to the basic family channels, but I find even those contrary to family values.  My younger girls are quite surprisingly open to the idea not having tv. But my boy wonders what are we going to do when we are bored. My oldest barely watches anyway. The only thing I would miss is the weather forecast and news.

[martin]

The only thing I would miss is the weather forecast and news.

Living in N. Ireland that's the least thing I miss haha. 

Welcome Reginator and Maria Margaret. Great to hear from you both. 

Yes... the books, magazines and even newspapers can be full of compromises for the catholic. There seems to be nothing safe anymore and the best way is to divorce from them completely. What peace that brings.   

[Shin]

'The spirit of the world is restless and eager to do all things; leave that spirit alone.'

St. Vincent de Paul

[susanna]

I'm down to 1-2 hours of tv in the last 2 weeks.  It's a lifelong vice I have to break.  Getting news (Christian stations) and weather on line is much better. 

Hello Reginator (I love that story) and Mary Margaret.   

[Bailey2]

The girl who has no time for television (see above  ) is now glued to the playoff games!   
Mea Culpa!

[odhiambo]

Hi Reginator and welcome 
I too loved your post. There is a t.v ( rugby) addict  in the house and I called him to read your post.
I am getting along fairely. Just brief periods of news. Even  EWTN which I had started watching, I have stopped because I realised  the reason behind it was wrong. It was still the need to watch t.v that was driving me to EWTN.
That came out all muddled 
I hope someone understood what I am trying to get across 

[Shin]

No no, I completely understand! That's exactly it! Exactly!

God keep you odhiambo! I empathize and understand!  

I've found the fight vs. the TV is something that the lessons from can carry over to other areas of life too.  

[mtndwellar]

I have learned that if you don't have a TV, people try to give you one of theirs!  They say, "We have an old one in the basement.  The kids never watch it.  You can have it."   

A friend once asked me to think about this:  What are your priorities in life?  What did you do today?  If the two are different, then you are lying to yourself.  Watching TV is not one of my priorities.

[odhiambo]

I have learned that if you don't have a TV, people try to give you one of theirs!  They say, "We have an old one in the basement.  The kids never watch it.  You can have it."    

A friend once asked me to think about this:  What are your priorities in life?  What did you do today?  If the two are different, then you are lying to yourself.  Watching TV is not one of my priorities.

It is great to hear that mtndwellar  
It used to be mine for years until this thread jolted me to my senses.
Those who offer to give out their old sets never stop to think that the lack of a T.V. may actually be from choice rather that lack of means.  

[martin]

I was talking yesterday with some relatives and the subject turned to TV.
When I told them I didn't have a TV they seemed aghast but after some discussion (and to cut a long story short) they've decided to try giving up TV 2 days per week.
A step in the right direction I think that could lead to a new awareness of the waste of time that it is.

I was thinking that if we could convince one person to give up tele, and in turn if they could convince one person to do the same, it could start a revolution. 

[odhiambo]

I was talking yesterday with some relatives and the subject turned to TV.
When I told them I didn't have a TV they seemed aghast but after some discussion (and to cut a long story short) they've decided to try giving up TV 2 days per week.
A step in the right direction I think that could lead to a new awareness of the waste of time that it is.

I was thinking that if we could convince one person to give up tele, and in turn if they could convince one person to do the same, it could start a revolution. 

A great idea, martin,  like the "Pay it forward" movie I watched some years back. Considering how a T.V set is one of the  very first things bought  with the very first salaries,  acheiving the goal would be a "herculean task", but ,as a Chinese philosopher once said ,"a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"
Congratulations on the successful first step 

[Patricia]

Someone pat me on the back.

A few days back my tv volume stopped working so we stopped watching tv for about a week and I really started liking the feel of it. We were sleeping on time, getting more chores done, children were reading and writing more, and there wasn't that constant noise and running to change channels if anything inappropriate was showing.  So today the big decision. I cancelled cable completely. Im returning the box back to the tv people. Just figured out how to pull out the last wires in order to give the last and proper burial.  Saves me about $60 a month and so many multiple benefits that come with it.

[odhiambo]

Someone pat me on the back.

A few days back my tv volume stopped working so we stopped watching tv for about a week and I really started liking the feel of it. We were sleeping on time, getting more chores done, children were reading and writing more, and there wasn't that constant noise and running to change channels if anything inappropriate was showing.  So today the big decision. I cancelled cable completely. Im returning the box back to the tv people. Just figured out how to pull out the last wires in order to give the last and proper burial.   Saves me about $60 a month and so many multiple benefits that come with it.

Good show Patricia  
Congratulations!
You will get a hug from me but where on earth is the 'hug'? Shin?
Well, next time you will certainly get one. For now, we will make do with this  

[Patricia]

Thank you Odhiambo!!     I am ashamed but because of the extra time on my hands with children not watching tv I realized that my 8 year old needs to work on her multiplication. Now she has time to do it.