I have been praying and thinking through Lent on ways to reconnect myself more fully with Jesus and other around me.
In the past I have given up one thing or another. One year I gave up coffee. That was a good idea and it was a bad idea. Yes, coffee is a huge distraction in my life that I need to have each and every morning. But eliminating coffee totally out of my diet caused incredible headaches and made me very cranky.
One year I gave up TV. I spent the entire Lenten season not watching TV. I love TV! Seriously! And TV demands too much of my time. When I cut TV time my reading time increased. It also increased my prayer time. But all I did was record all of my favorite shows so that I could catch up, for hours and hours, on Easter Sunday.
This year I decided to change the approach a bit and take Lent out of the box. I decided that I waste too much at Starbucks, so I will not shop at Starbucks for my favorite vente mocha and breakfast sandwich for the entire 40+ days. Each day during the week I will also eliminate another item, of the many, that are distractions and time wasters. My hope is that by doing these things I will better manage my time personally and my time with God.
Mondays are going to be Coffee Free Days. No coffee all day. I figure one day won’t kill me.
Tuesdays are going to be Internet Free Days. I will not be hanging out on the internet the entire day. No Facebook, no Twitter, No Google, No Amazon. The only thing I will do is periodically check my email.
Wednesdays are going to be Project Days. I will be devoting quality time to finish and start some project around the house. I have a ton of projects that I need to get moving on.
Thursdays are going to be TV Free Days. I am at work most of the day but instead of sitting in front of the TV, I will find some time to read and pray and just hang out with Monica.
Fridays are going to be Fast Food Free Days. I am seriously considering cutting fast food totally out of my diet like I doing with Starbucks for 40+ days. I spend too much and I am eating junk.
Saturdays are going to be Text Free Days. Simple enough, but I might include another social media fast day to go with it.
Sundays are days that are devoted to others and to God currently. I really don’t want to take away from the day and the enjoyment I am presently experiencing on Sundays.
What are you planning on doing for Lent this year?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lent 2010
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2 comments:
Thank you for posting this, it really seems like you have given it a lot of thought. I think that "giving" something up for Lent is more to bring us closer to God and less to torture ourselves. Your ideas seem right in line with this. During this season, we remember (as if there is any way to get through a single day without) the extent of the sacrifice made for us, since we were and are unworthy to make the sacrifice ourselves. I know that our denomination doesn't practice Lent per se, but like you, I also like to use this time to eliminate the obstacles in the path of my relationship with Christ. I hope that you are enriched, strengthened and renewed during this time. Again, I thank you so much for sharing this.
- Shelley Ordonio
Uncle Rick!
It was good to see you last night, even though we didn't get to talk.
In light of what Rob said last night, I have decided to give up the future for Lent, at least the one I cling to as of now. I am going to open up to a new future and to creativity in it's construction. That's what I am doing for Lent!
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