The Power of the Media

Birds make me nervous.

Picture this: you’re walking through the parking lot on your way to Target.  At first you’re just walking along looking at the big Target sign and thinking about the cute purple shoes you want to look for while you’re there.  And then, you realize that there are black birds all over the sign.  And it sure looks like they’re staring right at you.

Then you anxiously turn and see twelve black birds on the car next to you.  They sit, watching you as you walk by.  Then you see a few on the ground ahead — a few on the other cars — a few on the tree a couple feet in front of you — some on the ground behind you.  And a couple perched on the abandoned shopping cart on your right.  They’re everywhere.

And they’re all staring at you.

Your younger brother starts poking you in the ribs with his elbow, and whispering, “Don’t turn around.  The birds!  They’re following us!”

A cold shiver runs through your body and you start thinking about how if you run really, really fast, maybe you can get into Target before they start flying at you.

And the sad part is, this actually happened.

Now seriously, why should birds make me nervous?  They never used to.  That is, they didn’t until I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds last year.

Okay, this may be a silly example, but it does illustrate what I want to say: beware the power of the media.  It can affect us in ways much worse than simply becoming worried when it seems like a bird is taking too great an interest in us.  When we’re watching something, it’s important to be aware of how it is affecting us.

If it’s a film that’s going to encourage me to think about something that’s not conducive to a godly lifestyle, then perhaps I should consider not watching it.  Or if I do watch it, then I need to be extra careful to guard my heart and mind.

Philippians 4:8 tells us that we are to think about whatever things are true, honest, just, good, pure, lovely and of good report.  This is God’s standard for what enters our minds, and we must think about this when choosing what to watch, read, or listen to.

And by the way, I’m not scared of birds.  Not at all — they are a beautiful and amazing part of God’s creation.

They just make me a little — well, nervous.