Written by Michael Worrall

I grew up hearing the Jif peanut butter slogan, “Choosy moms choose Jif.” The ad claimed Jif looked, smelled, and tasted better than bargain PB because it was made with the real stuff.

Jif had real substance, not filler. The clear implication was that “choosy moms” knew substance when they saw, smelled, and tasted it.

I’m proposing that we be “choosy moms” in our media consumption - in our listening, reading, and watching. In this season of social distancing and quarantining, it can be easy to become media gluttons who unthinkingly scroll social media, watch Netflix, or follow the news. Let’s not be gluttonous consumers but choosy eaters. Let’s follow Paul’s exhortation to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy using Christ as the standard and the substance of our consuming.

With that, here are some suggestions for your listening, reading, and watching from a (hopefully) choosy dad and pastor.

Listen: Spiritual Songs - a Spotify playlist by Josh Garrels

This playlist is filled with almost 13 hours of songs about Jesus: everything from folk to hip-hop, It was Jesus by Johnny Cash to Doxology by Beautiful Eulogy. Put this on and have a dance party, get some house cleaning done, or just sit back and listen.

Read: “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

This short story is particularly relevant to this cultural moment. It is a jarring look at living in view of death/eternity--how our character is formed and changed when we keep ours and our neighbor’s end in mind. This story challenges us with the question, “When COVID-19 passes, will we continue to sacrifice to love and serve our neighbor?”

Watch: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Netflix)

The title is a mouthful, but the movie is easy to digest. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (T-GLAPPPS for short) follows an English author who sets out to write about a small community formed during World War II on the German-occupied island of Guernsey. What she uncovers is a beautiful picture of community, sacrifice, and compassion.

Bonus Read: “Learning in War-Time” by C.S. Lewis

This essay, written just after England entered World War II, sets out to answer the question: Should the university continue education during war-time? Should we continue to study philosophy, make art, and conduct scientific exploration when the nation is in crisis? His answer is timely and applicable for us in our own crisis.