Time better spent

I was recently invited to be a guest on a news and current affairs program to talk about the ongoing investigations of the quad comm. It shocked the guest coordinator when I replied that I have not watched a single episode and therefore, I would not be qualified to comment or analyze any of it.

The guest coordinator apparently could not contain her disbelief and asked why I didn’t watch any of it. (Perhaps assuming that any and all journalists would be glued to the investigations.) I simply said, “I have better things to spend my time on.”

The truth is, it was not the first time I have been asked to comment about the “quad comm investigations” and always I have said that it does not interest me, especially since I have seen many similar high-profile investigations amount to nothing or made things worse.

Go over the two impeachments conducted by Congress, the “imprisonment” of two presidents, controversial brown bag pay-offs, etc. etc. At the end of the day, it was either a grab for power or political vendetta while true legislation is left lacking! As I often say, it’s not the first time they investigate, and it won’t be last. So many have been detained, charged and publicly crucified, only to be resurrected or re-elected as senators or members of Congress.

Be careful and intentional what you spend your time or waste your time on. Today, the biggest challenge of most people is being focused and purposeful. The congressional investigations have jumped off the tracks and are not only wasting precious government resources, but they are also turning thousands if not millions of Filipinos into distracted and unproductive and misinformed citizens.

Where Filipinos could be spending their viewing time gaining useful knowledge, applicable to work or improving their quality of life, we now have zombie-like viewers of quad comm waiting for the next bit of drama, verbal counter punch or dialogues that ordinary Filipinos don’t even know what to make of.

I don’t know if the timing was mere coincidence, but TEMU the online vendor recently posted a coffee mug that carried the statement: “Not my circus – Not my monkeys. But I know the clowns.”

Ironically, those so-called investigations could have been done without the cameras, the high drama or excessive publicity the way true officers of the court or corporate professionals conduct themselves. But instead, what we have can now be “Made for TV fiction drama.”

To be fair, more and more viewers have started to conclude that the investigations are purely political, off the rails and have not changed the view or politics of people. They are either for or against a certain personality and any accusations or charges are “politically motivated.”

Fortunately, there remains a group of Pinoys who are focused on work, productivity, side hustles and simply ignore the politics and congressional investigations and opt to focus on better viewing material via YouTube content or real entertainment such as sports and refuse to be distracted as well.

I am reminded of a particular account in the Bible where a prophet named Nehemiah, who served under captivity of the Persians, learned that his hometown had been overrun, the walls torn down and the place left looking like a disaster zone. This caused him great grief and anguish because it symbolized the defeat of the Jews and the rejection of their God.

Being under captivity, Nehemiah could have simply “lived with it” or accepted it as part of reality. In fact, he didn’t have to dwell on it, given he already had a comfortable life as servant to the king. But instead, he made it his business and burden. He did so because the city of Jerusalem symbolized the state of the Jews.

Long story short, Nehemiah prayed to God for favor and wisdom, convinced the Persian king to send him to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and restore their “pride of place.” But local politics and their own version of investigations kept interfering with the plans and work of Nehemiah. The local “politicians” raised questions, sowed fear and intrigue, and demanded that Nehemiah stop the work and come before the group to discuss what he was doing.

They actually had their own version of “citing Nehemiah in contempt,” sent false reports and actively generated disinformation. All that did not really affect Nehemiah. Depending on the Bible version you read, Nehemiah politely declined their invitation, stating his busy schedule.

He flatly ignored the summons, and bluntly stated that the work he was doing was far more important than debating and arguing about authority, intent and territory. In other words, he snubbed them all, knowing they were merely flies that distract the workers.

Whatever your situation may be, perhaps it would be good to also consider or study what keeps us preoccupied or occupied. Our generational curse today are the digital devices that eat up hours of each day. Our mobile devices and tablets are supposed to be tools to enhance or make our lives more efficient. They are not meant to hypnotize and steal your time and energy.

The media was originally supposed to deliver the news, inform the public but not meant to turn them into captive audiences viewing useless information and distracted from having productive and profitable work or undertakings. The media is now an instrument for mass distraction and political self-promotion.

What is the important work that you are supposed to be doing? Who or what are the “energy vampires, monkeys or clowns” stealing your time or even your future? In hindsight, the walls of Jerusalem that Nehemiah rebuilt was meant to keep the enemies out. Let’s build our walls as well.

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