In one sense, the United States is the busiest nation on Earth, certainly the most economically productive. However, we are also a country of idlers, far too interested in non-essential things such as sports, entertainment, awards, and famous people. The art of sitting, meditating, praying, or even sleeping in a quiet room has left us. Americans now treat peace and quiet as an enemy. We won't hear of it. Entertainment rules.
As a people, we feel like we must know the latest info on everything, the very moment that it happens. Then when we get the scoop, the trusty cell phone has to be pulled-out to tell everyone what we just learned. This huge need to communicate and be a part of the bigger whole prevails, but in a bad way. Our fears and insecurities are treated with entertainment, sports, busybody acts, and gossip - versus God, prayer, and love. This should not be so. Life requires balance.
Has anyone else noticed the huge number of award shows of all types, for all activities? In today's world, any athlete, actor, singer, or dancer that doesn't win a few awards a year must be a total loser. These things are handed-out to any and everyone in each field, it seems. The same thing is true for records and statistics. I honestly heard a man on TV brag about another guy holding so many records for football at something like East Middle Tennessee State, or something like that! Even worse, during baseball games the announcers now have stats for everything you can possibly imagine: batting average with 2 outs and runners in scoring position against left-handed knuckleball pitchers? Give me a break.
Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with sometimes rewarding yourself with entertainment or games after working, or while working at the computer or elsewhere. The problem with America is that we let entertainment rule and guide our schedules. We plan work, even church, around big games or golf tournaments. I ask you, should we? Answer: rarely.
Entertainment began as a side activity, a sort of release from the working world. Nowadays, it has become our world! Amazing. Sports are like a national religion. We have shows about entertainment shows and award shows. TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, on and on and on. There are entire television channels dedicated to entertainment and celebrity news. Sports and music channels are everywhere. God help us.
In the 1960s it was popular for American preachers to say from the pulpit that our nation would one day be lost without a shot being fired. It was felt that we would self-destruct from within, due to our own habits and compromised ethics and morals. Might I dare suggest that we are almost there? Again, entertainment rules. Americans cannot stand to be alone, or bored. What if we had lived centuries ago? Think about it. Goodbye...
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