Glenn emphasized a point in his 12/12/14 program that I think is worth some discussion. "That which you gaze upon, you will become" (12:40). This has been a recurring theme that Glenn has discussed. He included it in his show on 23 Oct 2014, and CNN has posted transcript of Glenn using this quote as early as 19 Dec 2006.
While Glenn remarks that he thinks the quote is "Eastern" at one time, or "Hindu" etc, the closest I can find is a similar quote by Nietzsche.
I'm not currently the biggest fan of Nietzsche. He didn't have very nice things to say about Kant or Jon Stuart Mill, both of whom I respect, so I am going to ignore the possible original source as Nietzsche and look at the idea from Glenn's perspective, rather than whatever Nietzsche's perspective or intent was with his similar statement.
On the 23 October show Glenn held up his scriptures where evidently he had written the quote at the front "because this is true". This statement - that which you gaze upon, you will become - follows the line of thinking also in the Proverbs "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7); and from Jesus who taught "The light of the body is the eye:
therefore when thine eye is single, they whole body also is full of
light; but when thine eye is evil, they body also is full of
darkness." (Luke 11:34).
This principle is both sweet and scary. Sweet in the sense, that with willful effort, we can actually influence our own soul into becoming who we want to become. By exercising our abilities in shaping our environment, and being assertive in choosing and allowing only those things that will encourage and uplift us to live or think at a higher or more enlightened plane, we can "become" more enlightened and encouraging ourselves.
I suppose that perhaps that is why putting the statement in front of a set of scriptures could be an especially poignant reminder. As the reader opens and prepares to read from a source of God given truth, he is reminded that by daily 'gazing' upon these pages of truth, the reader might also be filled, even 'become' truth in way.
The 'scary' side, is that the opposite influence also holds true. As Jesus taught "when thy eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness".
My thoughts turn to an image of children watching television, movies, commercials, video games, and YouTube videos of every sort and variety. How many of these have elements of evil in them? How many may even be predominantly evil?
I also think of those individuals exposing themselves to pornography, pictorial or literary, handing over control of their emotions as surely as cocaine addicts hand over their happiness to cocaine. What becomes of them?
I think what we view and the effect it has on us can be perfectly described by the "parable of the pickel". When a cucumber is put in vinegar, it does not turn into a pickle immediately, but over the course of time, by constant exposure to the vinegar, the cumber changes. If we want to become better people, we must make an effort to surround ourselves with the influences and images that will uplift us to that higher plane and avoid those images that could 'dry out' the benefit of those good exposures.
During the show Glenn said "Unfortunately there are not a lot of options left to gaze upon that will leave you better than you were yesterday"(12:45).
The counter-point (and the good news): There is.
The availability of good and uplifting books, movies, videos, not to mention music and every other form of media are unlike any period in the history of the world. It is easier to fill our lives with light than ever before. Not only has the printing press, electricity, and manufacturing etc made books and printing inexpensive, our digital media has made that availability exponential. Ultimately, it is a choice that is ever within our grasp.
Perhaps Glenn's point was that among the major T.V. and cable networks, there is not much choice. If that is the case, which it is, then we have to look beyond T.V. and cable for where we 'gaze'. Maybe that is why I have a subscription to the Blaze.
