Drama, Drama...No Thanks!

Before we start this discussion, you and I need to enter into a contract of agreement.  This is serious stuff, so please listen carefully:

You are, under no circumstances (not even under the threat of total annihilation), allowed to tell my mom what I am about to tell you.  Yes, my mom still scares me...a little bit.

Right, with that out of the way, let's begin.

For those of you who know me, I apologize, but I have to state, for anyone who might not have a clue who I am, that I thoroughly enjoy watching movies and stories.  Especially if they contain things that blow up, great action scenes, time travel and witty banter.  Superman always used to be my favourite superhero, but I've realized that The Doctor far outshines him in any situation.

But this is not the point of my rantings and ravings.  I was sitting in front of the television yesterday evening, flipping through the three charity channels we are so graciously blessed to have here in South Africa; and because of the time of day, almost every channel had some form of overly dramatic soapie showing.  I've always believed that walking in on a story playing on TV and seeing the scene out of context, will most probably cause you to have a completely different opinion from what you would have had if you viewed it from the start.  Even if it's your favourite show on the planet!

In the split second I spent flipping through the channels I caught a few seconds of Days of our Lives (I think...that's the one with the evil Italian old guy that refuses to die, right?), and I suddenly realized: "90% of drama in our lives weren't supposed to be drama at all."

I'll try and explain it this way:  For me, sitting in front of my computer watching DVD's (It has a really BIG screen and a nice sound-system) has always been the chosen way of relaxing and escaping.  And it won't change, because it's still something I love doing.  But at some point I've allowed it to become bigger than my life.  So much so that I almost stopped living my life...I created an alternative life. (And I moaned because I didn't have a life!  Yes, lame, I know!).  My mom ALWAYS tells me to stop watching movies because I'm wasting away my life (hence the contract I made you "sign" at the beginning of this post).

So, what changed, you might ask?  Let me tell you, it wasn't some big Thor-like hammer falling from the sky, landing on my head that made me realize what was happening.  It happened very slowly, almost imperceptible.

And it's not rocket-science, quantum-physics or any other sciency, mathy thingy that I don't seem to understand.  I just realized that all the little worlds we create around ourselves will never be a substitute for the real world we live in, the real experiences we are supposed to be having, the real fun that awaits us around every corner.

Yes, travelling through time and space with The Doctor will always be something I'd one day want to do, but  shutting myself away and ignoring the amazing life that God has given me to live, is just going to create more drama and pain than is necessary.

So, look at the world you've created around yourself and be honest:  Is this world attracting unnecessary drama?  Is the real adventure locked up in the life that God, in His amazing wisdom, has chosen for you?

Go on then!  Go find that fun adventure!