to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed
by the renewing
of your mind.
(Romans 12:2)
It's not easy to get a moment of quiet clarity. Want to hear the voice of God? There's so much buzzing and humming all around us (and inside of us) that it's often extraordinarily difficult to recognize that still, small voice that our souls are so hungry to hear...
(TO READ FURTHER, CLICK ON "READ MORE" BELOW)
Between smartphones, iPods, iPads, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, TV, radio and all the rest--it's a miracle we have the time in our calendars and the space in our heads to hear much of anything at all.
When Jesus warned his disciples that "no one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24), he wasn't being super spiritual; he was talking common sense. Nearly two thousand years later, scientists affirm the basic principle: human beings are really bad at multitasking.
What does all this mean for the desert disciplines?
Well, what it means (brace yourself!) is this. As you and I explore fasting during the season of Lent, we might really want to consider a media fast. What would that look like? Well, for one brave member of our worship team at QCAC, it means fasting from Facebook. (Sound like a small thing? Just ask her about it.) Countless times a day she has to tell herself "no" and choose Jesus' company over the company of the crowd. For a time, she's being deliberately antisocial to her social network in order to enjoy the deep, strong, quiet company of Jesus.
And for me? If you mention "fasting" to Steve Jobs, he'll probably tell you "there's an app for that." But I'll have to say a polite "no" to Steve, because I'm largely fasting from apps for the rest of the lenten season.
Buying an iPad during Lent was probably not the smartest spiritual move I've ever made. A slab of shiny glass that can morph into endless colorful diversions? Even President Obama (a busy, disciplined man) has acknowledged how distracting the device can be. So… I narrowed down just the small handful of simple, utilitarian iPad apps I need to use, moved them all together into one place, and ordered myself: use these and only these apps during Lent! Don't you even think about playing with those other shiny, distracting applications!
I know, I know--media-fasting sounds extreme. Sometimes even just turning the TV off for a while can be an act of supreme willpower. But if the very idea of fasting from some variety of media is that unthinkable, that painful--doesn't it mean that you're onto something?
How about you? What might you consider pulling the plug on this Lent?
A friend gave up television for Lent last year while in the middle of moving between two cities. He has yet to buy a TV for the apartment! He finds the free time liberating. It allows him to focus more time on waiting upon our Lord and reading His good word.
ReplyDeleteCherirlavie--I'm going to let your friend be my inspiration (to watch less TV)! Thanks.
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