Canceling Cable
Last fall I ordered cable at our new house so as to have access to all the college football I could handle. At the time it seemed like a great idea. I was able to watch my Oregon State Beavers come within one game of the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl from my own living room. I was there in front of my TV when they choked in the last game of the year to go from 1st to 3rd and a berth in some minor bowl. I had a party for the National Championship game and watched the Super Bowl in HD. Yep we did all of this… Just me and cable.
I confess the plan all along was to cancel cable after the season was over. But we, and especially me, had gotten used to it, so it sort of just stuck around. We got hooked on some shows, used the On Demand feature often and I personally got into the habit of sitting down after a long day of conversations, teaching and meetings to watch some TV.
Me and cable were hanging out more and more. I found myself playing with my son Zane in between commercials, eating meals in front of the TV and just simply giving a lot of quality time to cable. Life went on and occasionally we would talk half heartedly about canceling cable, but soon it was summer and only months from the upcoming college football season. Naturally I concluded we might as well just keep it till next season is over.
A couple of weeks ago, Emily had to work on my day off, which gave me the opportunity to spend a full day alone with Zane. I was excited and looking forward to it and had even tentatively planned a few fun activities for us to do the next morning. The next day I awoke to a quiet house on a beautiful peaceful morning. I arose, walked out into the living room and as had become habit, unconsciously picked up the remote, flipped on the TV and found myself watching cable. Zane woke up sometime later and to my credit I did take a small break to feed and dress him. But in what seemed like no time at all it was noon and where was I? I was sitting in front of the TV on a beautiful day while Zane played on the floor in front of me. All of a sudden in a moment of self clarity I realized what I had become and it repulsed me… My thoughts found a voice and the words… “What is wrong with you?” leapt from my mouth. I had given no intentional thought to the day. I had just out of habit started watching cable and already the day was half gone. I was addicted. The result… I was not living out my vocational responsibility as a father and husband and to be honest I was having an adulterous relationship with cable. So in disgust of myself, I walked over to the computer looked up Charter’s phone number and called the operator. Within two minutes I had canceled cable.
To be honest I miss cable. Over the last two weeks it has happened more than once where I pickup the remote and pop on the TV, only to remember we don’t get any channels. I usually let out a sigh and then go find my son to take him outside or read him a book. What I have found since canceling cable is not that I'm a better person or a better Christian. My obsession with frivolous activities will probably crop up in some other form rather soon. No, what I have found is that my family is benefiting from living according to the calling God has given me to as husband and father.
While I do miss cable, I am also enjoying the time quitting it has allowed me with my son. I am enjoying the time I have to read a book before I fall asleep. I am enjoying the quiet meals at the dinner table with my family. I am enjoying the conversations with Emily around a fire in the back yard after Zane goes down. All of this has come from the simple act of picking up the phone and canceling cable. What I have found is that in the end, while far from perfect, life is just better without it.
I encourage you to take the opportunity to take a look at your life, seek out your “Cable” whatever it may be and cancel it. By doing this you won’t be less sinful or more in tune with God. No, you will still be the same person struggling against sin, saved only because Christ has chosen you to be His. But whatever you can cancel will make life, somehow just better. This is the gift of living in obedience to what he has commanded. Blessings on your reflections and actions.
P. Guy
