Admittedly, there is a lot from the last few months to catch you up on. Maybe I'll actually be able to tackle those things in the coming weeks.... Hopefully, I'll be able to tackle (at least some of) those things in the coming weeks.
Today is Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent - and it leads up to the glorious Easter Sunday on April 24. Since leaving the Catholic Church when I was very small, I haven't actually participated in Lent. I think some of the pain my parents inadvertently experienced as children from some members of their Catholic churches caused them to push away from any sort of liturgical anything...and, that pain bled onto me a bit; being their child, I didn't see the need for Lent either. But, as an adult, I've heard enough about it from friends to make me at least begin to ponder the larger meaning behind this season in the universal church calendar.
And, after pondering and praying, I decided that this would be the year that I actually would observe Lent - in an attempt to intentionally make more room for God in my life.
But, then the next question is: how? How do I participate? What do I choose to give up to make more space for Him?
And, as ridiculous as it sounds, the answer for me is: Facebook. I'm a little embarrassed to even admit this but Facebook takes up far too much of my time each day - whether it's the (constant and regular) brief glances while waiting for a file to upload while at work or it's the time at the end of the day when I need to "decompress" or a myriad of other times throughout my day and week, I'm on Facebook way too much. So, for the next 40 days (save Sundays, which classically aren't a part of Lent), I won't be on there. I won't be filling time or wasting my time on Facebook. I might not even get on there on Sundays either....
This description and commentary on Lent really synthesizes why I am choosing to participate in this age-old practice this year as well as a bit of what I'm hoping to accomplish:
Today is the kick-off day for the 40-day journey to Resurrection traditionally called Lent. Christian communities all over the world use this time to intentionally make room for God in their lives through fasting, praying and special gatherings....
There is plenty of room for believers to love God more—room for us to be caught up in an infatuation with the Holy. Seasons like Lent provide space for us to intentionally do so. I’m not saying we should try to love Him extra in order to make Him love us more—He loves us period, not in response to what we do or don’t do. But loving God back is a natural thing for those who have been deeply touched by Him.
It’s sad to me that American Christianity often takes such pride in being religionless. We put so much emphasis on belief; to be sure, believing is where it all starts—I’m just not sure that believing is enough to make us world-changing, kingdom people. Richard Foster wrote, “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered people. All of creation watches expectantly for the springing up of a disciplined, freely gathered, martyr people who know in this life the life and power of the kingdom of God. It has happened before. It can happen again …”
I'm hoping that the space I create from not being on Facebook so much will allow me to be a little quieter, a little more attuned to the voice of the Father and have more time to focus on other things that are important to me and that God is highlighting for me in this season.
I'll let you know how it goes....
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