Lent III: Keeping Your Scales Balanced

It's hard to believe we're already gearing up to begin week three of our Lenten journey! For the past week I have been trying to focus on giving up a social activity and replacing it with service to an organization or individual. I had some difficulty with this one since I seemed to be so busy all the time! I kept trying to figure out how I was going to find the time to give up a social activity... wait a minute-- What exactly have I been so busy doing?

I started a mental list of everything that kept me busy for the last week and found that after time spent at work and the gym, I spent a lot of time on service to my church without many "social activities." Granted, I was in Louisville, KY, for a youth ministry conference for four days over the weekend, so my data may be skewed a bit, but even after discounting those four days I am starting to think that I may have tipped my "time-scale" too far in one direction. Just as service activities are important, so are social activities and maintaining relationships with one's friends. I think I need to work on balancing my scales.

 Here's week three:

March 7: Thy Will be Done
Focus: Giving up social media (Facebook, email, etc.) and replacing with scripture reading and devotions.


Here's to Days Just Packed with balanced scales!

Lent Week II: The Journey Continues

Last week's Lenten journey centered around giving up a form of media (TV, newspaper, radio, etc) and replacing it with prayer (or something at least more constructive than vegging out on the couch). This was a fairly simple challenge for me. I already don't watch much TV, I don't get the newspaper, and I typically just listen to music on the radio. Out of those three things, I decided to go without television. I can do more constructive things with my evenings than watching a favorite show, right?

Time to reflect about what I added to replace no TV...  While I didn't spend every hour I normally spend watching TV in personal devotion or prayer, I did catch up on some pleasure reading, I got a start on getting my budget in order, I spend a few evenings with my friends, and I started a brainstorm list of things for our young adult group at church to do (I have recently taken charge of finally getting our group together). As it turns out, I don't really need to watch much TV! This is something I believe I will incorporate into my normal daily life.

Here's the next part of the journey...

February 29: Thy Kingdom Come
Focus: Giving up a social activity and replacing with service to an organization or individual.

Here's to Days Just Packed with constructive things to do in the evening!

The Lenten Journey

Once again, we find ourselves in the season of Lent. Can you believe it?! Time flies when you're... not writing in your blog! The Lenten season is a time for reflection, which means that it is also a great time to share some of these reflections.

Ash Wednesday was two days ago; Lent has officially begun. When I talk about Lent with others, the most common question they ask me is, "What are you giving up?" Making a sacrifice for Lent is a long-standing tradition which seems to have overflowed into the secular world. Even people who consider themselves "spiritual, but not religious" enjoy the challenge and personal growth involved in a 40+ day sacrifice. As a Christian, I see this as a great opportunity for discipleship. With this common ground as a foundation, I like to share a different outlook on the traditional sacrifice--

A personal sacrifice takes something out of your normal routine. Where once there was something, now there is nothing. Inevitably, we will try to fill that void. What are you going to do with the time spent not watching television, not checking your Facebook, or not playing video games? How will you spend the money you save by not drinking alcohol, not eating chocolate, and not dining out at restaurants? Considering the outcome of personal sacrifice helps to breathe new life and, more importantly, purpose into this Lenten tradition with the hope that, through spiritual discipline, you may form a closer relationship with Christ our Lord. What are you adding to replace what you have given up?


Last year, my church challenged us to focus each week on a different spiritual discipline centered around the words of the Lord's Prayer. I like this idea, so I'm doing it again this year. Will you join me on this Lenten Journey?


February 22: Hallowed be Thy Name
Focus:  Giving up a form of media (TV, Radio, Newspaper, etc.) and replacing with prayer.


Here's to Days Just Packed with Lenten reflection!

Day 182:

If at first you don't succeed... try, try again! We will continue this discussion later.

Day 7:

What is it about Saturday? I can wake up on Saturdays.  Maybe it's because it's my "special day" -- the only day that I don't have anywhere I have to be before 10am. But here I am: Day 7, one week, half a fortnight.

So far so good? I'm thinking so. It's quarter til 7 and I'm bright-eyed.  If I had a tail, I'm sure it would be bushy.

Day 4:

So Tired.

Day 3:

Found myself snugly tucked into bed by 10pm last night. Success!  After just a couple days of my new routine, I found myself sleepy enough by "new bedtime" to convince myself that I would not just lay in bed for hours and hours.  I don't think I finally fell asleep until close to 11:00, but it's a start!

This morning I woke up to the sound of my... cell phone? I set it for 7:00 as a "just in case" precaution. I must have turned off my alarm clock when it went off at 6 this morning.  I blame Night Man. He's still not thrilled about this new arrangement.  I'll consider this morning to be a minor victory. I have time to blog, putter around a bit, eat breakfast, and get to work.

Baby steps.