"To all my facebook friends starting on Feb 16th which is Ash Wednesday I will be deactivating my page for Lent.
Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
With that being said to all my facebook friends, I will be back but I think this will be good for me. I know many of you have said you love seeing pictures of the boys and I appreciate that. I think this journey will be good for me."
Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
With that being said to all my facebook friends, I will be back but I think this will be good for me. I know many of you have said you love seeing pictures of the boys and I appreciate that. I think this journey will be good for me."
When I read this I felt a knot in my stomach...an undeniable stirring that I tried in vain to ignore. I had this feeling, as I had for a while at that point, that God was suggesting that this was something that I too should address in my own life, but give up Facebook for FORTY DAYS??? COMPLETELY??? I'm a stay at home mom, and it is quite literally my window to the world...I'm a social butterfly, and without it I would feel so isolated, and wouldn't that be worse for me??? I tried to rationalize it in every way possible, but as I continued to feel this stirring, and to see posts about Lent, I knew deep down what God was asking me to do.
Facebook has been wonderful, and I love that it is such a great way to stay in touch with the people in my life, but if I'm honest, it has really kind-of taken over my life. It is the first thing I do every morning while drinking my coffee, and it preoccupies me throughout the day, keeping me from doing many other things that I really SHOULD be doing, like school and house work. I just have this insatiable need for connection, and I am seeking it through my computer, rather than through my time in the presence of God and my family, and that needs to change. Like, yesterday.
So, I say all of that to say this: I will officially be giving up social networking for Lent. This will be extremely difficult for me, I know, but as Jenny said, I really do feel like this will be good for me holistically. There is so much going on in my life right now, and I am really feeling God calling me to become more disciplined in my prayer life and in other areas that require more attention than I have been giving them. Facebook has been my greatest distraction, and dare I even suggest, borderline addiction, and I plan to take this break to reprioritize my life and heart.
While I know you all will greatly miss my witty charm and pictures of my ridiculously adorable children, take comfort in knowing that I will return after Easter; hopefully with a little more self-control, and with my heart in a better place. If anyone would like to get in touch with me while I'm away, my email address is genvanpelt@yahoo.com! Love you all, and I will see you after Lent!
No comments:
Post a Comment