Thoroughly Entertained

Options.

This world is full of options.  Everywhere people go they are told they have options. When bad news comes from the doctor, work is disatisfying, nothing looks appetizing in the cupboard or soap operas are playing reruns on TV, the first questions is often, "Well, what are my options?"

I was simply struck today by the options I am given for entertainment. I'm all about fresh air, running until my legs burn and buckle beneath me, swimming even if my form is all wrong, volunteering at children's centers, chatting with old friends on facebook, reading 5 Karen Kingsbury novels in 2 weeks, leaving uplifting comments on people's walls, calling home to my mom about seven times a week and burying myself in books even when I'm walking. So when I get on Netflix and see what my options are, I can't help but feel disappointed.

Violence doesn't bother me so much, although I don't see the point of it when I don't care for any violence in real life. But constantly inserting foul language and having a constant obsession with sex is absurd. I'm not shocked. I expect it from my culture. Being in that "in between adolescence and adulthood" stage, I see both sides to the entertainment game. Sure, flashy and dangerous movies are attractive and the minute they are in theatres many feel they must run to buy the first tickets. But then I see the loss of values, the absolute lack of realism, and the intense cheapness that I feel I share if I participate in this mindless entertainment. I watch it and my mind feels dull, and I can't produce clean inspiration when I feel deadened within.

Not that Blockbuster or Netflix have to come to a screeching halt because of my little opinions, little old me sitting on a lazyboy having a day off of school. But I know for myself that I have made the decision to not feed that younger part of me that says "Who cares? Who would know? It's what I want." I want to feed that part of me that doesn't need to travel the world, or shack up with the boy next door, or buy $300 scarves, or become a world-acclaimed journalist to be happy.

I want to feed that part of me that knows I live to glorify God and no one else. No matter what He wants me to do. Somehow, doing the things God wants for me never feels cheap; it never feels as though I'm getting old or wasting my life; I just feel alive and truly happy, as though I cannot wait for a new day even while today is the butter on my bread.