From the time they were in diapers they have been hyper stimulated. From Baby Einstein to parents enrolling them into every thing under the son , many kids have never really been free just to say lay down on the cool grass , look into the blue sky and see the clouds become shapes ,turning into tigers,elephants or wherever your imagination can take you.
According to new research , the brain is being effected by the way we are giving kids information . Unlike in early times when information was given by direct communication and book reading was needed to learn , now so much has been broken down in bits and bytes of quick data . Much of it useless. So with this over stimulated brain , attention spans are shrinking .
Within the Church context with services being geared towards this generation . The music has be upbeat , usually fast and short with little depth , the sermon has been reduced to a sermonette , with pithy sayings rather than solid scriptural exposition. Everything is paced to try to elevate any idea of boredom.
What will be lost if this generation continues on this pace , I think that will be the lost art of self reflection ,contemplation and the ability to just be still. We are as it has been said , amusing ourselves to death.
The answer is to catch the bigger picture . When I sit down to open God's word , I have begun to just pause to let the reality that this book is God speaking. To look around and see the world beyond a TV or handheld device. God's creation is amazing. Boredom is a choice one makes , it is a choice that is sad because there is much to be enjoyed if one uses your God given gift of imagination .
2 comments:
When the kids were younger, during summer break, people would ask me what the kids were up to. They would be quite horrified to find out that they weren't enrolled in any Day Camps. Everyone was quite convinced that they were going to get in all kinds of trouble, if their little hands were idle. I was so sick of being asked for the umpteenth time, that one day I said, "Rob a liquor store." In reality, Offspring # 1 was a ferocious reader who was fascinated with hockey stats, history and his Atlas. Offspring #2 never met a colouring book or blank piece of paper he couldn't conquer. I remember them playing NHL draft or Star Trek (#1 offspring was always Captain) with their bears. If it was at all nice out, they were playing baseball or hockey. Brace yourself, in the yard with their friends, just a pick up game like we did when we were kids. The saddest thing is that I fear imagination has been stomped out of this generation. After all, look at all the reality TV shows. They're so busy at the soccer field, hockey arena or traveling with the school band all in the same week. The worst part is no one ever takes the time to "Be still and know that I am God." Love you, Mrs Reg
I agree with you about Churches that are entertainment centered not Christ centered. We've got all the bells and whistles at our Church, New Minas Baptist. Fortunately, Pastor Bob hit it out of the ball park, on Sunday. Love you Guys sports analogies. Especially since it was offspring #1, of the jaded generation, who said it. Seriously, I am especially grateful to God when he lays it on Pastor Bob's heart to preach the Word. Love you, Mrs Reg
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