"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are." -- Paul, a Fourth-Grader in San Diego I love the summer.
Warm sunny days, walks with my wife, barbecue, watermelon, ice cream, television, a variety of fresh fruits & vegetables, outdoor sports & recreation, butterflies, vibrant greenery, the sweet fragrances of lilacs & honeysuckle, gorgeous sunsets, Nintendo, red dew-covered roses, fishing, family gatherings and the list could go on. Quick trivia question: which items seem out of place? Unfortunately, for many kids today, TV, video games and other forms of media are robbing them of the simple, imaginative childhood they're naturally wired for. And it's not just kids.
A recent study by A.C. Nielsen revealed that the average American adult watches nearly 5 hours television per day. Those over the age of 55 average nearly 6 hours per day. I recently heard about a program called The Fresh Air Fund that was started in 1877 by a non-profit organization. Their goal was to introduce disadvantaged children living in the inner cities to the "great outdoors". The program was started in New York to benefit the city's youth. A man, by the name of Reverend Parsons asked his parishioners to volunteer to host inner city youth for a time away in the country. They agreed and The Fresh Air Fund was born. The program still flourishes today, offering a choice of five camps in upstate New York for the city's children to enjoy time away and learn about country life.
Luke 21: 37 says, "Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives."
In our noisy world I find this concept incredibly liberating. Jesus saw the importance of "unplugging" from all the noise that a typical day brings. The Mount of Olives was a place of 'fresh air' for Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we must also see the importance of literally unplugging from our noise (media) sources on a daily basis. By doing this daily, we may find it refreshing to try one week or one month media fasts that eventually turn into permanent practices.
There There truly is power in unplugging. Are you ready for some fresh air?
Hitz, CJ (2011-09-14). Fuel for the Soul: 21 Devotionals That Nourish (Kindle Location 180). Body and Soul Publishing. Kindle Edition.
