Isn’t it great to have

friends and family that care? Yes, it is. Sometimes I think my whole life is based on the old TV series, Bonanza and other period westerns. Perhaps that is why I dislike television so much today. I realize the influence that TV has on young people because of it’s influence on me. Yes, I admit it, other than church, TV has had more influence on my personality than anything or anyone else. And I think that is not a good thing at all.

The loner philosophy, the guy that does things his way, the mentality that you can make it on your own in this world, even the insecurities that I have, all of that I learned from TV. And as I see what is produced on TV today, I know that the current and future generations of children will be affected even more. And if I have been this deeply affected and future generations will be even more so, then it follows that society as a whole will spiral further into the abyss. I say this because I’m confident that I’m not the only one in the world affected by TV.

But, you have a choice! Turn it off! Wrong answer, especially for a child. I have found over the last 3 or so years that if you do not watch television, you are looked upon very strangely, you are oblivious to the many “water cooler” conversations that occur around you and that your interaction with others is truly limited. For a child that is struggling to find acceptance, it is not a choice or an option. And please don’t think that this has anything at all to do with Christianity – it doesn’t. It has to do with me realizing what TV has done to me. Last time I looked, Jesus wasn’t saying anything about the Simpsons. But he certainly was rebuking the hypocrites who prayed in public that we are but a stench in God’s nostrils (but who really meant that EVERYONE ELSE was a stench, not them).

So, why the rant? Because I’m recovering! I’ve learned, finally, to accept the support from friends and family. I’ve learned that it’s okay to need their support; I’m not weak simply because I need an empathetic ear. And it’s okay to feel better because of it! Yeehaa! Look out, I’m joining the human race. Late.