Lent. It is a time to fast. Several years ago I told one of our daughters, Grace, that I was giving up texting while driving in the car for Lent. She laughed and said, “Dad, it is illegal anyway. That is like giving up shoplifting.” Telling this story to another friend of mine, he laughed saying, “You are just that kind of overachiever. Most people give up ice cream but you give up sin.”
At Lent we usually think about giving something up. But equally important, perhaps more important, is what we “add in.” The question is how will we allow whatever it is we release to increase our ability to follow Jesus.
Here are some ideas. With some there are “add in” ideas, but in any of them, involving time or money, you might think of giving away that time or money to God in some manner. The bottom line: How might we “let God in” in a new and good way.
Fast from Media-- Facebook, Twitter, TV shows, blogs, sport sites, whatever your media addiction is, give it up until Easter (Apr 12) and you may find that you’ve given it up for good.
Fast from going to Movies -- That seems a bit drastic, but so is following Jesus!
Fast from people -- Catholic teacher Richard Rohr used to take a 6-week hermitage during Lent, nothing but silence, prayer, study. Most of us cannot do that, but we could fast from social interaction for a time each day or a day each week. Some of you introverts might do this regularly, so your “fast” might be to actually speak to a stranger each day! Whichever it is find ways to open up to God.
Fast from Sex -- Hello -- this is for married couples. If you are single, may you already be fasting from sex! Common to Christian tradition is to fast from sex for a season (Paul wrote to married couples, to “deprive each other for a set time so that you can devote yourselves to prayer and to God” (1 Cor. 7:5). Remember Sundays are not fast days during Lent but feast days, so, well, you get the idea.
Fast from Dating -- for single folk, perhaps Lent is a time to stop dating as a means to look at your primary relationship with God.
Fast from Money -- How little can you spend in 6 weeks? Other than regular bills, fast from every frivolous expense, however you define that.
Fast from Food or Drink -- Coffee, soda, sweets, certain meals, certain foods (meats, grains, dairy, etc). The traditional fast of the church has been from all dairy and meat products during Lent, a vegan diet. The idea is not to think of ways to get around what you have taken out, but use the craving for that food, that drink as a call to prayer, a call to God.
Fast from a workday Lunch -- Give up food one day and your daily routine of eating, and break up the day, take a walk, pray, read the scriptures, get in touch with God.
Fast from Workouts -- Take 6 weeks, walk everyplace you can, eat veggies, but stop being a “gym rat,” a “weekend runner,” “a yoga addict, “a regular at the basketball court” and instead step out of the “race” to pause, be, pray, reflect, love.
Fast from Driving -- for most of us, driving is something we do “reflexively” as if there is no other option. What would it mean to drive only to your job but no place else? What would it mean to limit trips to the store to only one store, once a week?
Fast from Reading -- When did you last take time to reflect on what you already have inside you, rather than reading for now input. This is not unlike a media fast, but also stop reading the devotional, the newspaper, and anything but essential reading. Let your mind rest and experience silence. Prayerfulness. peace. When the fast is done you will learn to read in a whole new way.
Fast from Plastics – What might it look like to not use or purchase anything wrapped in plastic for Lent? Folk I know who have done this other Lenten seasons found it immensely challenging. They wrapped veggies in the paper towels in most markets. They took reusable bags. They shunned buying anything in hard, plastic containers.
Fast from Trash -- Greatly reduce the waste you and your family produce. Let nothing be wasted. Recycle as a discipline during Lent. Buy whole foods, use fewer bags, pray about what you learn along the way.
Fast from Talking and Texting -- Take a break from unnecessary communication. Don’t talk or text just because you have nothing else to do. Put your phone away for a day. Replace that time with mindfulness to God, your surroundings, real people, and yourself. Fasting from unnecessary chatter will open up the communication lines with God.
Fast from Multitasking -- During Lent fast from multitasking by only allowing yourself to do one thing at a time. The point is not to say multitasking is bad, but to give your use of time and the tools that you have more to God. Put time in God’s hands by doing only one thing at a time and reminding yourself that you are simplifying for Him.
Fast from _________________ -- There is something in your life that is good, nourishing and just fine, but for Lent, that is the very thing you need to sacrifice to God. You may know what it is already, but if not, pause, think, reflect and look for what that may be. Release it for Lent. Easter is coming soon, it always does.
(adapted from Belifnet.com)