What to Give Up for Lent - Can You Go Without Social Networking For Forty Days?
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009
by Abigail Richards
It is the time of Lent for Christian congregations. Lent is the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It represents the time Jesus himself fasted and faced temptations from Satan himself along with his death and resurrection.
Lent is typically a time that Christians give up or fast from something in remembrance of what Jesus endured. The theory is that Christians will draw closer to God during this time by giving up something that takes away time with God.
According to the BBC, Monsignor Benito Cocchi said foregoing the activities would help them "cleanse themselves from the virtual world and get back into touch with themselves."
I recently heard a story on the local radio station of a father getting an $1800 bill because of his daughter's cell phone texting. Can you imagine?
How much time do you spend online a week? How much time do you spend on Facebook poking others? What about playing WoW?
A few months back, I was doing a Bible study that encouraged its participants to fast from something for the first six weeks of the study. Some people chose chocolate, others red meat, etc. I chose Starbucks coffee.
I know it sounds like nothing big, but I was a daily coffeeaholic. Sometimes stopping twice in one day. It wasn't until this time that I realized how much value I had placed on something so insignificant as coffee. It was really sad.
I realized that if I would have put the amount of energy scheming to get to and from Starbucks every day into building my relationship with God, I would be so much closer to Him. I think I could have made it into sainthood. Just joking, of course, but you get the point.
Can you imagine how much individuals could grow by avoiding social networking type activities for forty days? Would it even be possible? What about our teens-could they live 40 days without texting?
I am impressed with the Archbishop's challenge. I wonder how many individuals will go through with his challenge. I can imagine it would be much easier giving up meat or ice cream.
What about you? Could you do it? Or what do you plan to give up this lent? Feel free to leave your opinions in the comment section below.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Abigail, a good job and these comments not intended to reflect on you. They are for your many readers to contemplate. Lent is truly the season for repenting, changing. Giving up an incidental as an offering not something acceptable to God by His Word not mine. Repenting and acts of mercy and love, now there is something for lent and acceptable to God as an offering. Best wishes.
If you think something is bad, why not just give it up period? Why bother with 40 days, or even 100 days? If something is good, keep doing it. Right?
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