Several years ago I didn’t make a post on the first day of Lent because I was swamped with work and I joked that I gave up blogging for Lent. One of my pastor friends (the kind of guy that would go to college in Oklahoma, become a children’s pastor in DFW, then Lubbock, and then Georgia) called my bluff and wondered if I could seriously give up blogging for the entire season of Lent. Each year that thought has popped in my mind, and yesterday I decided to seriously accept the challenge.
A lot of folks participate in Lent as part of their spiritual life, but many non-spiritual people like to partake of it as some kind of challenge of discipline. Many think that it means giving something up, but it can also mean committing to something for 40 days like going for a walk, reading, volunteering, eating in, or something more family or kid oriented. For me, it’s two fold. I want to give up something that has become such a big part of my everyday life for the last eight or so years, and I want to dedicate myself to something as well. For now, I’m going to keep my dedication personal.
I understand for some of you this little blog is how you start your workday or is your little getaway, and this choice of mine is going to be a bit of a disruption for you. Maybe you can use the three to five minutes you would normally spend here and use it to meditate/pray, talk to a coworker, or finally write a letter or send that email to that someone you’ve been meaning to get to. But for those of you that would rather spend your time online, I’ve provided some similar blogs below and some places that I like to spend time. All should be family friendly-ish and safe for work.
There’s a chance I might lose some readers, but I don’t mind. Those that I lose probably have been looking for a reason to not visit for a while now. I’ll still be tweeting, probably more than usual, so you can keep up with me there.
See ya April 21.
Keith
Hi Keith, go for it! We will be here when you come back!
Enjoy your time of renewed focus – we're not going anywhere!
WOW…way to have me "sacrifice" also…HA
And i shall take your challenge and spend my GeedingTime in prayer.
May God's love and mercy shine abundantly in your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhQql-ZbZmg
See you on the other side baggie!
Fair thee well, sweet prince.
Guess I know what I'm giving up for Lent.
As my dad always used to say, "This is going to hurt me more than you".
To quote Kevin Bacon from Apollo 13: We'll catch you on the flip side!
I just recommended your blog to my daughter the other day. When you return, I will remind her to check it out again.
Thanks,
Larry
Good for you! Enjoy this wonderful season.
I gave up bread for Lent and now I have to give up BON, too!!! This is going to be tough! Counting down to
April 21st!
I too, will attempt to allocate more time to prayer. Enjoy the break and I hope you grow as a person.
Surely you see the absurdity of "giving up blogging" vs "I'll be tweeting". They both seem to me to be permutations of the exact same behavior. Tough to consider that very spiritual.
I gave up religion for Lent.
Come'n Keith….you know you are just dying to post SOMETHING out here.
Just go with it.
Double Fake Satan
Sure is a nice day to post something….Lots going on in the world.
It sure would be interesting to hear the latest on your backyard project.
Double Fake Satan
Hey Ketih….
Post your NCAA bracket. I bet you had Baylor losing in the first round.
Double Fake Satan