Don’t know why this thought popped into my head this morning, but I was thinking about tv commercials. Not specific commercials, but the time that commercials air. I have dvr (tivo) on my cable receiver now. I’ve never had it until about 2 months ago and I just love it! The best thing about it, aside from not having to be glued to the tv at the exact time that shows come on, is that I can skip past the commercials. However, this morning I was wondering if that was such a good idea.
Programs on tv are mostly designed to take advantage of commercial breaks. Tension builds and then it’s time to cut to commercial. It’s designed to leave us hanging. We have a chance to take a break and contemplate what is about to happen next. It leaves us with a sense of anticipation. We get up and go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a snack or talk to others about what we just saw and what we think is gonna happen next. Now, with my dvr, when I sense a commercial about to start I reach for the remote and the instant the program stops I fast forward so I don’t lose any time. A few seconds later I’ve skipped past the commercials and get back to the action. I lose that time to deal with anticipation and engage my mind in thought. I go right back to the program.
This morning I was thinking that this is exactly what I do in my life. I am so focused on getting through the journey that I don’t want to break away from it. I want to keep going. I am driven and motivated and passionate and perseverant. All good traits in most peoples minds, but for me at this moment, I am feeling like they are bad traits. They have caused me to keep moving forward at the cost of stopping to enjoy what is going on around. The things that God has blessed me with have been taken for granted and everything else has been set aside for the sake of pursuing the goal. I need to stop in the middle of the tension and the drama of life and think about things more. I’ve found myself stopping and being contemplative *after* I’ve taken steps rather than before the steps. I’m not stopping to appreciate all that the commercial breaks can give my life.
I’m looking forward to not fast forwarding through commercials and seeing how that changes my perception of shows I watch on tv. I’m also looking forward to engaging my senses and enjoying all that God has surrounded me with as I pause to think and adjust to what’s going on in my life rather than rush right through things on my way to fulfill the conclusion.
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“…not stopping to appreciate all that the commercial breaks can give my life.” Great statement. When God gives us a commercial, I hope I never “TiVo” thru it. Cause on the 7th day, He didn’t! :)
Heather, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. A great reminder of the influence sabbath can have in our lives :)
So much goes by without our ever noticing… and what a shame it is! If we would only take a moment to simply “Be still…”
Psalm 37:7 TNIV •
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.
Exodus 14:14 TNIV •
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to Be still
Psalm 46:10 TNIV •
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”