My Netflix Situation

It was Labor Day 2015.  I had absolutely no plans.  No cookout to attend.  No date to get ready for.  No beach trip to pack for.  Nothing!  So, I decided that I would have a “lazy day” one that consisted of eating, relaxing, and watching Netflix.  Now part of me felt sad because I had nothing exciting to do.  Because I am a young single woman, I felt like I needed to be OUT! You know, doing something fun…making memories…hanging out with friends.  Oh well, here I was at home - just me, my comfort food, and my Netflix having quality time. 

After plopping on my couch and searching the Netflix catalog, I finally settled on a TV series to watch.  From the first episode, I was hooked! It had just enough drama, laughter, and unexpected twists and turns to keep me entertained.  I experienced a myriad of emotions while watching the episodes.  I laughed, got frustrated, and yelled at the TV when a character annoyed me.  But overall, I enjoyed the storyline.  Then, it happened…

After watching several episodes, out of the blue, one of my favorite characters died! I was so upset and even felt like crying!  I couldn’t believe it.  I couldn’t even finish that episode because I was just that distraught over that FICTIONAL character’s death! Well, it’s been almost a week and I still don’t feel ready to finish the episode.  I just don’t want to risk feeling those feelings again.    

When I stopped the program I looked at the clock and realized that I had been sitting on the couch for almost six hours!!! I had become so emotionally attached and involved in the characters that I didn’t notice how much time had gone by.  I sat there for a few moments and processed what happened.  I went through a range of emotions – joy, frustration, hope, pain – for something that was not real at all.  

Unfortunately, we do the same thing in our everyday lives.  We become emotionally, mentally, and spiritually connected to situations that don’t even matter.  For example, gossip, old relationships, and petty interpersonal conflicts are all examples of senseless “situations”.  We allow these “situations” to burden us, sadden us, trouble us, and evoke bitterness and fear in us.  However, we don’t have to go through all of that.  

Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Things of this earth (external stressors, financial issues, failed relationships) will not last.  However, God’s love, peace, power, and joy will last forever.  His Word is a sturdy foundation that we can stand firmly upon.  As His children, we are the heirs of His promises.  We are called to focus on these eternal blessings.  By internalizing this principle, we make ourselves less susceptible to emotional baggage. 

I notice that we often give too much of our energy to nonsense.  We hand over our thoughts to things that won’t even matter in the long run.  Remember, we have been instructed to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, lovely, and pure (Philippians 4:8).  So, when a “situation” at work has you feeling incompetent, know that you can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).  When you encounter a “situation” in which people are saying negative things about you, remember The Lord says, “I know the thoughts I think towards You (Jeremiah 29:11).”  For God’s thoughts are the ones that really matter.   

So let’s focus on things that really matter.  Let’s give our energy to relevant and eternal matters.  I believe my Netflix incident serves as a good reminder of how we get emotionally burdened and attached to insignificant affairs.  So today, I encourage you to break free from trivial matters and break out from the bondage of irrelevant circumstances.  #BreakOut