Christine' Corner: Lent-Refraining and Letting Go
During the season of Lent, many people talk about “giving something up.” This comes from a centuries old practice of fasting during Lent. Fasting used to mean simply giving up food for a period of time in order to focus on God. This Lent, why not think about this ancient practice in a new way? Think about refraining or letting go. What will you refrain from? What will you let go of? Here are some ideas.
Screen Time/Technology: Try putting your screens away, if not for a whole day, maybe a part of every day. Turn your screens off earlier than you normally do.
Meals Out: Make a plan with your family to make a meal at home you would ordinarily order out. Spend the time together making the meal, and consider donating the money saved to a special charity.
Unkind Words: Are there any unkind words you would like to remove from your vocabulary? How can you let go of them? Think of unkind words you say to yourself as well as to others.
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
Faith Practice Spotlight: Digital Sabbath. When you turn your phone or screen off, think of it as a digital sabbath. You can have a digital sabbath for an hour, a day, a week, or more. When you turn off your device, say a little prayer: God, thank you for this gift of technology. Help me to enjoy my time away from it and to experience the freedom of a digital sabbath.
Letting Go Links
Sabbath in the Suburbs, by MaryAnn McKibben Dana — A book about one family’s experiment with Holy Time
1000 Hours Outside — An alternative to screen time
(Thanks to Traci Smith for all the wonderful ideas in this blogpost!)