The chase

Last night I had this really cool dream. Well, cool is a relative term. My dream basically consisted of me running from a tornado and hiding as it went by. The cool thing was that I got to see a tornado.

You have to understand. I am a weather nerd. I love the Weather Channel. I especially enjoy studying tornadoes and hurricanes. If it is a cyclone, sign me up.

I wonder if you can guess what I was doing last night right before I went to bed...

If you guessed that I was watching Storm Stories on the Weather Channel, you would be right. I watched two episodes, both of which had to do with tornadoes.

What I watched on TV impacted my dreams in a very direct way. I have heard for years that younger children shouldn't watch anything scary, especially right before bed, because they would have nightmares. Even some adults avoid certain movies before bed.

If what we watch on TV affects our dreams when we sleep, don't you think it might affect our dreams in life? I am not talking about the dreams we have at night anymore. I am talking about our dreams and aspirations in life. The goals we have. The things we strive for.

I know many Christians who watch hours of television shows that promote immoral behavior, feature wealthy, young, and attractive people, glorify violence and dishonesty. We then wonder why many, if not all, of these struggles become issues for us. Why do we think that movies and TV shows will affect children, but not us?

Two arguments I often hear are: children's minds are much more moldable; and adults are better equipped to process what they see. While there is some merit to both points, are we suddenly unable to be influenced because we are adults? It doesn't matter how old you are. What you see, hear, and experience will shape who you are.

Followers of Jesus must be careful about what shapes them. What is impacting your dreams? Are your entertainment choices affecting what is important to you?

I always find it interesting that teenagers will tell me they can watch all of these movies and TV shows and listen to whatever music they want, and it doesn't really affect them. Then I notice they are wearing the styles and clothing labels promoted by their culture. They often use the same vocabulary as the stars on their favorite shows. And in a variety of other ways, they display attributes that reflect the messages of their favorite songs and shows.

You might think it's just about the way they dress or talk. If that were all, I guess my concern would be a bit overblown. But it often goes much deeper.

I have seen a lot of people who claim to be Christians focus more on lifestyles of the rich and famous than picking up their cross. Many Christians will work overtime to have a Jet Ski or a bigger house, but it is unlikely they would work overtime to help a family in the church who is in need. Other Christians might spend $75 on a shirt or pair of pants with a designer label, and treat the church member wearing $15 pants from WalMart differently.

Isn't funny how culture has trained us to shape our dreams, goals, and desires about what they think is important? It is so frustrating sometimes that so many of us determine what is important by listening to the people whose job it is to sell the products.

Why is someone who wears Hollister better than someone who wears clothes from WalMart? The honest answer? Because if you can afford the nicer clothes, you are more important. If you have the money to spend, you are more fashionable, more wealthy, and a more significant person.

Many of us might argue with this, but isn't that the reality?

The world is training us to value things that aren't really that important. It is teaching us to chase dreams, goals, and desires that God must shake His head at.

I recently heard a story that illustrates this well. Renowned preacher, theology professor and storyteller Fred Craddock
swears this happened to him: He was visiting in a home of one of his
former students after graduation, and after a great dinner, the young
parents excused themselves and hustled the kids off to bed, leaving
Fred in the living room with the family pet-a large, sleek greyhound.
Earlier in the evening Fred had watched the kids roll on the floor
playing with the family dog.

"That's a full-blooded greyhound there," the father of the kids had
told Fred. "He once raced professionally down in Florida. Then we got
him. Great dog with the kids, that greyhound."


Well, sitting there with the dog, the dog turned to Fred and asked, "This your first visit to Connecticut?"


"No," Fred answered. "I went to school up here a long time ago."


"Well, I guess you heard. I came up here from Miami," said the greyhound.


"Oh, yeah, you retired?" Fred said.


"No, is that what they told you? No, no, I didn't retire. I tell
you, I spent 10 years as a professional, racing greyhound. That means
10 years of running around that track day after day, seven days a week
with others chasing that rabbit. Well, one day, I got up close; I got a
good look at that rabbit. It was a fake! I had spent my whole life
chasing a fake rabbit! Hey, I didn't retire; I quit!

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It's time for the people of God to stop chasing the fake rabbits that culture is placing before us and dream the dreams that God has for us. Dreams where humility is celebrating. Dreams where selflessness is honored. Dreams where laying down our life is the focus.

shine!
Jason