I can’t wait until Easter! Why? To celebrate that Jesus is risen, of course! Easter is all about life over death, victory over defeat, love conquers sin. Christmas is special. But Easter is the best!
But I also want my Facebook page back! For the majority of March and April, I will not be on the “social media” website that has become a major source of communication and connection between my family, my friends, and me. I’m giving up Facebook, which, I’m feeling, is like disconnecting your telephone or putting a “stop” on your mail. I’m having DT’s this morning like a man who’s been cut off from “the sauce”; or a coffeeholic who’s had no morning java. It’s ironic but I got the idea to give up Facebook from my college friend (and Salsa dancer!) Celeste Hickman. How I’d get the idea? Through Facebook! I’m blaming Celeste for this idea. Only I’m thinking it may turn into a thank you by the time Easter rolls around.
Through the ages, many Christians have chosen to voluntarily give up something for the weeks of Lent: chocolate, meat, alcohol, TV, coffee, or the March Madness games. If you want to see a great movie about giving up something for Lent, get your hands on the DVD of “Chocolat,” the 2000 movie featuring Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, and Dame Judi Dench. I didn’t give up chocolate. I chose Facebook.
The reason for abstaining during Lent was NOT to earn favor with God. People weren’t “more spiritual” because they gave something up. Rather, giving up something gives us a taste – albeit a very small taste – of what it was like for Jesus to lay aside his heavenly power, and to abstain from his divine nature, in order for God to be a man who could love and save us. Praise God that Jesus did it perfectly!
Here are some more ideas for Lent, and for your own spiritual practice throughout the year. It is my hope that, as a pastor, the people of my church, and Christians everywhere will dedicate ourselves to grow into a more profound appreciation of what Jesus did for us, and deepen in discipleship to follow Him day by day, all throughout the year. Here are some ideas that I’ve culled from others who have helped me to appreciate the abstinence of Lent in new ways…
Slow Down – Brooks, a character in my favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption, said upon release from prison after fifty years, “The world’s gone and gotten itself in a big damn hurry.” I think his line is true. In what way can you slow down? How can we – as a community of faith – slow down together?
Sign Out – Take a break from online gaming, internet shopping, social media, and exchanging endless emails that don’t accomplish much. Sign out and take a “Sabbath” break from cyberspace.
Share – Life is all about relationships. As a Family Life Pastor, I once shared an office with another youth director (shout out to you, Rich Kunst!) and we would say to each other, partly joking, partly serious, and always as a reminder, “Remember, ministry is ALL. ABOUT. RELATIONSHIPS.” How can you enrich relationships? Share food with those you love. Share faith stories. Share the necessities of life with those who are disadvantaged or in need. Share in people’s burdens. Share in other’s joy. Celebrate life by sharing it. In other words, take a break from “me.”
Sleep – Proper rest has been identified by some theologians as the most basic form of selflessness and trust. As one writer put it, “Sufficient rest is a primal act of faith and powerful witness in this beleaguered, fatigued, workaholic world.” Looking sleepy, feeling fatigued, and being droopy just isn’t Godly. It’s a sign of taking too much on with deluded super-human, god-like powers that we simply don’t possess. Take a day off. Truly off. Like a Jewish Sabbath: don’t cook. Don’t work. Eat. Make love. Take a bath. Spend time reading. Worship. Sleep.
Stoop Down – Just as we begin Lent with Ash Wednesday (“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return”), we can practice humility every day by living in repentance and faith. Humility gives the grace to stoop down, that is, to confess that I am a creature, who is not in control, and I am not God, who is in control. If God, as the Scriptures declare “remembers that we are but dust.” can’t we do the same for others?
