Give It Up!!! Living In Lent...
So, it's that time of the year again. Christians all over the world have gotten through the sights and sounds of Ash Wednesday. And now its time to put into practice 40 DAYS dedicated to giving something up. Why? Because we want to get our minds around the idea of sacrifice. We want a tangible way to remember the sacrifice Christ made for the world. So, we take a moment, reflect, and decide to let go of something as reminder of the big sacrifice Christ made for us. (you know, God in the flesh, death on the cross, raised again on the third day ------stuff like that)
I like the idea of Lent. I don't always like the implications of the practice. I like people who say, "instead of giving something up for Lent, I'm going to take something ON!" I never did too well with that. I always forget to do the extra stuff and before I know it, Lent gets away from me. This year, I think I have a custom made Lenten practice. For the next 40 days, I will turn off the TV after 9pm. But it doesn't stop there. See, I actually DO like the idea of giving something UP and taking something ON. So instead of zoning out on my favorite shows (#scandal, #themindyproject, #raisinghope, #catfish), I have decided to fill that time with talking, reading, knitting, thinking, and writing.
I got the idea the a few nights before Lent. I had to prepare for chat interview with a blogger@Brady Dale for @nextcity.org. I had to finish reading #12tribesofhattie so that I could participate in the dialogue about the book. In order to finish the book, I HAD to turn the TV off, leaving me in a space of peace, contemplation, and reflection. I felt quite productive. Then I thought to myself, how much more could I get done if I just turned the TV OFF at night! What would happen if I had more time to think, dream, compose, sleep, and just be?
So here's to 40 days of difference, a taste of sacrifice, and creating space for something beautiful.
Oh, and thank you Lord for not airing "True Blood" during the Lenten Season, Amen.
(Here's the link to the book discussion with nextcity.org - http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/drowning-doesnt-always-look-like-drowning-a-discussion-of-the-twelve-tribes)
~ A.
I like the idea of Lent. I don't always like the implications of the practice. I like people who say, "instead of giving something up for Lent, I'm going to take something ON!" I never did too well with that. I always forget to do the extra stuff and before I know it, Lent gets away from me. This year, I think I have a custom made Lenten practice. For the next 40 days, I will turn off the TV after 9pm. But it doesn't stop there. See, I actually DO like the idea of giving something UP and taking something ON. So instead of zoning out on my favorite shows (#scandal, #themindyproject, #raisinghope, #catfish), I have decided to fill that time with talking, reading, knitting, thinking, and writing.
I got the idea the a few nights before Lent. I had to prepare for chat interview with a blogger@Brady Dale for @nextcity.org. I had to finish reading #12tribesofhattie so that I could participate in the dialogue about the book. In order to finish the book, I HAD to turn the TV off, leaving me in a space of peace, contemplation, and reflection. I felt quite productive. Then I thought to myself, how much more could I get done if I just turned the TV OFF at night! What would happen if I had more time to think, dream, compose, sleep, and just be?
So here's to 40 days of difference, a taste of sacrifice, and creating space for something beautiful.
Oh, and thank you Lord for not airing "True Blood" during the Lenten Season, Amen.
(Here's the link to the book discussion with nextcity.org - http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/drowning-doesnt-always-look-like-drowning-a-discussion-of-the-twelve-tribes)
~ A.
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