The liturgical season of Lent has always been one of my favorite seasons of the church year. This year, I’m particularly excited for the Lenten journey to which God has called me. Ben recently wrote a wonderful post about Giving Up, Giving Out, and Taking In noting that:
…the season of Lent is not just about giving up things. Sweets, soda, television, or Facebook. Lent was a time to fill ourselves with the things of God. So we empty ourselves of these simple pleasures that we might be filled up with the joy of Christ. Lent is a time to be drawn closer and to draw closer to God.
There have been years that I have painstakingly legalistic about forcing myself to give up things such as dessert, soda, caffeine, meat, etc. without so much as a thought of filling that space with the joy of Christ. What is the point if we are not throwing ourselves whole-heartedly at the feet of Jesus, emptying ourselves of our worldly desires and filling ourselves with His love.
So, here’s the deal. In light of recent struggles and confessions, I’ve been spending some time in prayer and reflection over what God may be calling me to in this Lenten season. Where does He desire me to empty myself and what areas of my life need to be filled by Him?
For the next 40 days I will be emptying myself of the need to be artificially connected to people: I have deactivated my facebook account, I will be signing off of Instant Messenger and will most likely stop Twittering.
In place of artificially maintained relationships I will be filling myself: I will be investing heavily in my relationship with God and re-discovering His love, I will be investing in “real life” relationships – with Scott, with my family, with friends, with my youth. And I will be fully present in those relationships.
So, basically my only outlet for internet communication will be here at the blog – and I even questioned giving that up (but it turns out that blogging is typically beneficial in that it helps me to reflect on God, life, and love).
I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
I owe you a phone call. It will come sometime soon.
Miss you!