24 November 2007

How do you spend your day? Many of us spend hours and hours in front of some type of electronic screen. On average, Canadian teenagers, from age 12 to 17, spend 12.9 hours a week in front of a TV. This is becoming more and more a solitary form of entertainment, with an average of three TV’s in each house, but teens spend even more time online than watching TV. Actually, teens are well known as multitaskers, so the hours spent watching TV may include hours surfing the net, talking on cell phones, and playing video games.

This isn’t to say that all teenagers do is watch stuff. In a recent poll, Canadian teenagers ranked first for in terms of hours spent on unpaid and paid labour during the school week. Many are working crazy hours at places like Walmart. Teens also face an average of 2 hours and 20 minutes of homework every day and an hour of housework too. With all these events chasing for our time, is it any wonder that we become too distracted to even begin thinking about life, death and eternity? What’s distracting you?

Uturn hit the one-year milestone this November 24^th. The band, the drama team, Chris, John, and all the audience were all full of energy – ready to jump, dance, sing, and throw aside distractions for at least one evening.

The drama, written by our own Marzella Martin, gave us a glimpse at one girl’s distractions. These were so far from the little things in life, like Facebook and ebay; they were deep and real and painful. She was facing some of life’s hardest troubles: the loss of a father, the rejection of a boyfriend, and the search for God.

The band brought us a new song, Slow Fade, by Casting Crowns. Check out this verse:

"Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings 
Be careful little feet where you go 
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away 
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray 
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid 
When you give yourself away 
People never crumble in a day"

John gave us some input from his life – and his junk mail box. He couldn’t believe how much stuff there is that invades our lives, calling for our attention, our time, and even our devotion. And most of it is just as meaningful as junk mail. He told us about Jesus, who has answered his questions about life, death and eternity. Curious? Check out our About Us page.