So I realize the silliness of most of my Lent endeavors. Obviously, the idea of the season is through some personal sacrifice to prepare my heart to reflect on Jesus's sacrifice and then to celebrate the resurrection. I must admit that not posting to Twitter and Facebook isn't helping accomplish this at all - it's simply a lame attempt at a physical gesture to recognize the upcoming holiday, which is probably more insulting than to just go about life in a more genuine fashion.
The biggest changes I've seen (what, in two days?) are not spiritual at all.
1. I feel less "liked", and by "liked" I mean mouse-clicker-approved by my voyeuristic friends on facebook. There's something extremely satisfying about writing a clever status message and seeing the "Equally-distracted-friend likes this" and comments roll in.
2. The living room is chaos. With mom spending less time on the computer and iPhone, there are way more toys on the floor. I consider this a good thing.
3. I crash my shopping cart less at Walmart. I'm sure you've seen the likes of me doing it: attempting to grab the Beenie Weenie mini cans from the top shelf while updating my status about the irony of Beenie Weenies being a "top-shelf" food, all while the toddler is trying to climb out of the rolling cart.
4. There is a constant status update feed running in my mind of things I would post were I allowing myself to post. It's like I am narrating my life in 140 characters or less snippets, and I am the only one reading and giggling and commenting on the narration. "Paige likes this (with little thumbs up)."
5. Joe is bombarded by my mental Twitter feed when he walks in the door. "Sharing freezer pizza with my toddler and wondering when I will be able to get in a couple bites." "Watching Daniel hiss back at the cat, this kid is a genius." "Wow, is this the 4th poopy diaper in a 1-hour span?" "Thinking about how to get my hair cut on Friday... to grow it out or keep it shorter..." This is also the point I realize my friends are saying "I like this" because they either feel really sorry for me, have equally mundane feeds, or want to perpetuate the self-humiliation.
"New post! Paige updated her blog! Look at her! Comment! Love her! Like her! Validate her!" - thumbs up, anyone?
Thumbs up Thumbs up! You know I was going to wait and come back to post a comment because I didn't want to admit that I read this only 10 minutes after you posted it. This is naptime at least! And besides, we're all friends here. I know what you mean about lent. I have never observed it and honestly, the past few years is the first time I have been around anyone that does. I don't really understand it in the same way an organized fast doesn't make sense to me. I think if you are called to fast then do it, but not because it's an event. I'm not saying this is what you did at all! Just that it's why I don't observe if that makes any sense. Whatever the reason though, taking time off from social media is probably a good thing in that a little self-check never hurt anyone :-) And yes, the internet misses you.
ReplyDeleteYes, and I can't shake Jesus's comments on fasting and prayer - how they should be done in secret so as not to draw attention to yourself. It seems lent has become quite a trend of announcing a list of woefully meager sacrifices and then spending 40 days complaining about how much you miss coffee or sugar.
ReplyDeleteAMEN on your above comment, Paige. Amen.
ReplyDeleteLet me interject a contrary note, not because I want to be an ass, but in the hopes of mutual edification. I'm a big fan of the organized fast. I'm doing a fast from the Eastern Orthodox fast that is, frankly, really rough. And it's not on my schedule. But that's what's good about it. Someone else thought it up, and many people have done it, so I know it's doable, and it doesn't have my wimping-out as part of the schedule. It doesn't come to me when it's convenient - really, not eating Monday and Tuesday this week while I had to stand up and teach pretty much all day both days sucked. Instead, it forces me to be disciplined and self-controlled NOW, when the calendar and the clock say to. And I find I like that. I find that it's actually been really good for me to having something other than myself dictate to me and to practice obedience to that.
ReplyDeleteI have longer thoughts on this over at https://thejawboneofanass.wordpress.com but not particularly different ones.
Good point Eric! Just to clarify about the organized fast. I don't mean following a fast that has been thought up by someone else. I mean a church or some other body saying, okay everyone, let's fast from this day to that day! And people doing it for the wrong reasons because of peer pressure and not a true calling.
ReplyDeleteAMEN on your above comment, Paige. Amen.
ReplyDelete