40 Days of Commuting Silence
In case you didn’t notice it, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season officially began.
As a protestant, I didn’t grow up observing Lent. Due to the extended familial wars of religion, I was strongly encouraged to avoid all forms of Catholicism. No offense to my Catholic friends and readers, but the extended fam is militantly Catholic, which has made family relationships extremely challenging at times.
I didn’t even realize that protestants observed Lent until Beka observed it while I was in college. I was shocked. Why was a Pentecostal Christian observing something that I connected with Catholicism? As I ventured outside my Presbyterian/Baptist bubble, I encountered more and more protestants who chose to observe Lent even though their respective churches didn’t emphasize it.
After hearing Pastor Joel’s sermon at Ebz this weekend (love the “How” series), I decided to observe it this year. Fasting of all types is certainly a biblical principle, and I’ve never fasted for 40 days before.
What to fast? I sat there praying and thinking for a few minutes. It seemed wrong to fast something like sugar just to have a “Lent diet.” Politics, Facebook and the web really aren’t options since I need those things for work. Blogging was a possibility, but I can’t even take a voluntary break from it. I gave up Diet Coke and caffeine a while back, and I’m not a fan of chocolate. I hardly ever drink anymore. Lost is the only show I watch on TV, and I’ve cut back on shopping to be a better financial steward. Then I had an idea. My iPod. I should give my iPod up for Lent.
Outside of DC, that may sound insignificant. However, iPods are a necessity of life here. When you spend up to 2 hours a day commuting, the majority of Washingtonians survive with music. Furthermore, it’s how I cope in a cubefarm environment. When it’s noisy or I have a huge writing project, my iPod is pulled out. There are days when I spend 5 or 6 hours zoned out to the addypod. A while ago, I realized that using my morning and evening commute would be a good opportunity to pray, read my Bible or read a book on Christian living. Until now, I’ve never really had a motivation to do that. Maybe I’ll be finally finish Mere Christianity.
If this morning’s commute is any indication, the next 39 days are going to be a challenge. It’s hard to focus without music drowning out the distractions.
As usual, NCC has resources. Check out the daily prayer journal and tell your 40 days story.
Are you observing Lent? If so, what are you fasting?
I decided to give up soda, most notably diet coke. I feel I HAVE to have it everyday. It’s a huge vice for me. I’m not doing it to diet or anything but it is a big “fast” for me to forego something I depend on every afternoon. I’ve been reading my bible daily to read through it in one year and have been very faithful to that, but won’t be able to do it during my convulsions from diet coke every afternoon!
Like you, I didn’t want to give up something to “diet” or that wouldn’t make much difference (tv) but instead something that I was semi-addicted to and could use those craving times to pause and count my blessings, or say a prayer for someone I’m thinking of.
It’s day two and I pray from noon until five! HA!
Good luck–I know that the ipod is a big deal for you. I’ll pray for your strenght during my afternoon convulsions.
February 7th, 2008 • 11:33 am
I just saw your post. Getting off the coke thing is actually good for you. My migraines have gotten considerably better since I gave up caffeine. Think of it as a spiritual and physical health thing.
February 7th, 2008 • 12:12 pm
Wow, that would be a hard one. Impressive! I grew up Protestant and have never gotten into the practice of giving up something for Lent, but I admire it for sure. I’ll be curious to see if you have any interesting observations without your iPod to shield you on your commute!
February 8th, 2008 • 9:31 am