Watch the Commercials!

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

When I was kid we had 3 channels on the TV, a phone on the wall and 20 acres of outdoor wonder to entertain us, I did not know what an AP class was and I applied to one college and attended it.

Why is it that if we are not in perpetual motion we feel guilty or unproductive? We have become such an instant gratification existence.

When did watching the commercials on TV become such an annoyance?

If you are from my generation you know what Mikey liked, what the best part of waking up was, what fast food restaurant served two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, because we had to watch the commercials.

Now, if you don’t want to pay for a show on a movie channel they now have channels that you can watch for free with commercials. My kids generation has never had to watch commercials because “fast forward” was invented. In the past, during the commercial was the perfect opportunity to get up and get something to drink or go the bathroom. The only time people willingly watched commercials was during major sporting events like the Super Bowl, or the Olympics. Now we “binge watch” 20 seasons of a show ( watch them back to back), Thank you Netflix. We have lost the art of anticipation, speculation and delayed gratification.

Even now in a conversation with friends I will bet you the farm that someone will take out their cell phone and “google” the answer, which used to be debated back and forth and require the thoughts and memories of those involved. Instant answers.

When your computer is not lightning fast do you roll your eyes and tap your foot waiting? Remember dial up? Before that it was an encyclopedia or the library. Instant resolution.

Not so very long ago you had to think ahead to prepare a meal by taking something out of the freezer. Now you can just thaw it on 50% power in your microwave. And have you tried an INSTANT POT? Cook something in a fraction of the time, but with the taste of an oven rather than the microwave. Instant satisfaction.

Technology allows you to do the mundane more quickly so you can get to the good stuff, but how many of us just fill our time with more “busyness” to try to cram more in? Instant productivity, or is it?

In Luke 10, of the Bible. we are introduced to Martha and her sister Mary. Martha confronts Jesus to ask him to get Mary to help her. I can just hear the scene play out:

Martha: (with whiny voice while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet) “Jesus, tell Mary to get off her keister and help me prepare the meal.”

Mary: “Seriously Martha, let’s just eat leftovers, I want to hear what Jesus has to say”

Jesus: (with calm voice) “Martha, Mary is doing what is important right now, she honors me because I am here now.”

Of course, Martha had no idea that Jesus would soon be crucified and die only to rise again, but she was caught up in the obligation rather than the anticipation.

Now don’t get me wrong, Marthas are very important, but sometimes you have to be a Mary if you want to be satisfied and truly productive.

Joyce Meyer said, "Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting."

Now I don't think of myself as a patient person, but it is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) So maybe we should slow down and watch the commercials (even if you get up to go get a drink) and realize that more productivity does not necessarily mean more work, but more time to stop and smell the proverbial roses and to have a good attitude while doing it.

“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” Psalm 46:10