Spiritual Diets

Photograph provided by Rampage student photographer Elei Haynes.

How clean is your diet?

I’m not asking what you ate for breakfast; I’m asking what you’re feeding your eyes. Many people worry about what they eat every day — reading labels and price tags, asking if it is gluten-free. But when was the last time you put that much effort into your daily screen time? How many times do people check the facts on an article their favorite news site posted or scroll through videos each day?

When was the last time you thought about your spiritual diet?

The eyes should be treated the same way the mouth is treated. They are windows into your soul. Scrolling on your phone for hours could be the same as overeating. Even what a person watches matters. Consuming too much negative news or content could be giving your mental state food poisoning.

Maybe you scroll on your phone or channel surf after a long day at work, de-stress in between classes, or scroll in your free time. Now, this isn’t necessarily an addiction, but one could make the metaphor that it’s a cigarette for your eyes and thus your soul.

In today’s world, just about every app and influencer is trying to grab your attention and keep it. Besides, it’s much cheaper and easier to just scroll and sit on the couch, right? That may be true, but taking the easy way will do you no good. Staying on your phone or television leaves less room for growth and development. Taking the easy way may seem like the better option, but even just taking one or two extra steps away from the screens will open worlds of opportunity.

Reading books, creating art, talking to your family, or even going outside are all amazing alternatives that provide healthy outlets and opportunities for growth, not only physically but spiritually.

Comfort kills. You only get back what you put in. The amount of time we spend on our phones takes away from what is truly important and simply distracts you from God and life. Keeping your eyes fixed on your screen might not seem like a big deal, but all those quick notification checks and doom-scrolling adds up. Every moment of our lives should be spent living it. Our ears should be open to the world around us, learning and listening for God no matter where we are or what is happening.

Look, listen, and consume the word of God rather than earthly desires and comforts. Screens take up the little bit of time in our already busy schedules that should be used for experiencing the wonders of God and the creation we live in.

In today’s world, we seem to need constant stimulus, whether it be music, news, or podcasts. These all take up time that we should be spending on thought or coming closer to God. Being alone in contemplation, even on a short drive to work or school, can help people open their minds and think. Using your time to read the word of God and pray will bring much more fruit than the screens of this world will ever provide.

Now, I am not saying that music, news, podcasts, and the like are all bad, but I think we should cut out the screens and noise during those small moments we all take for granted. Moments in between class, on the way to and from work, even during a drive with a friend or loved one. Take a walk or work out with no music. Every moment spent with noise being crammed into your ears or a screen in front of your eyes is a moment God is waiting to guide you through the world.

Using your time to read the word of God and pray
will bring much more fruit than the screens
of this world will ever provide.