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March 3, 2011
Dave Gibbons' Hardcore Lent
Could you give up exercise, sex, and social media for 40 days?
Do you dare?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9th. The purpose of lent is for prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. It could be a grueling 46 days. People ask me about the options for observing this season of the church calendar. Well, here’s a list that is a bit different. It’s a top ten hardcore ideas for Lent 2011.
1. Don't Lock Your Doors. Do we hide behind gated walls and doors too much? Do we need that much security? Maybe keeping open doors reminds us it’s not healthy to live alone. Be radically welcoming! Throw more parties with people you don’t know. (Btw, that’s what hospitality really means in the Holy Book- welcoming strangers.)
2. Don't Wear Makeup. This was inspired by someone close to me who loves her glow. This individual mentioned to me that not wearing makeup it helped her to focus on other aspects of beauty. Btw, if you’re wondering I do like make up. . . on other people.
3. Fast from Chocolate. Did this last year. It’s harder than you think!
4. Fast from Sex. No explanation needed. How about developing a primal relationship with God. There’s another type of intimacy that is heavenly.
5. Fast from Futbol or Basketball. Life outside the square is possible.
6. Fast from Exercise. This is about normal exercise routines or going to the health club every day. Take walks instead. Okay, before you exercise enthusiasts throw rocks at this one. I work out about 90 minutes a day at the number one voted gym in America. I love it there. So I know this is hard but as with anything we can be a bit too intense in a lot of areas of our lives. Let let go of any unhealthy obsessions. Couldn’t sin be defined as something that is good but twisted in some way?
7. Fast from Your Typical Cultural Food. How about eating ethnic foods you normally never eat instead of your normal fare. There is flavor outside your common behavior.
8. Fast from Driving Alone. Besides carpooling is hip. Turn the rat race into a communal space.
9. Fast from TV. You may find life outside the box. . . err the screen.
10. Fast from Text Messaging and Social Media. This may be harder than you think. We’ve almost become neurotic with our iphones, ipads, and laptops. They have become another limb on our already pimped bodies. The slower pace of conversation and face 2 face interactions may actually be healing for you. Come on stop stalking people and start talking to them!
Do you have other lent self-denial suggestions for those who want to experience something MORE? Come on creatives!
Comments
Perhaps this should be titled "unique things to give up that you might not have thought of" because they don't seem hard core to me. Hardcore would be not talking for 40 days or not eating during day light hours or praying all the hours of the day (including the 3 am one).
Posted By: Jane | March 3, 2011 1:51 PM
This is fantastic!! I love your suggestions and will definitely be implementing at least one and suggesting the others. As a family we are gathering on Shrove Tuesday for dinner to discuss our plans for lent, this list is sure to feature!!
Posted By: Rich Langton | March 4, 2011 12:50 AM
Jane, you're right hardcore, I guess, is somewhat relative. Rich, right on! Praying your family will meet Jesus and experience His beauty!
Posted By: dave gibbons | March 4, 2011 8:40 AM
Lets see...
#1: Don't lock your doors. Um...hmm...I don't see that ever happening...welcoming people in...yes, leaving them unlock when I go to bed...yeah, not!
#2: Don't wear make up. No problem there...I will put that into practice...since I was born. Yessirie! No make up for me!
#3: Fast from Chocolate. Really? What kind of sick puppy are you?
#4: Fast from sex. Um...yeah...right, moving on to the next one.
#5: Fast from futbol or basketball. Hmm, futbol, would that be that table game where we spin the guys on the racks trying to slam the ping-pong ball into the opponents goal slot?
#6: Fast from Exercise. Sorry, I'm training to run a half-marathon, and if you never run a half-marathon, especially with my body type...I need all the practice I can get.
#7: Fast from typical cultural food. I live the SF/BayArea...it's all about ethnic foods here...so yeah, got that one.
#8: Fast from driving alone. Carpool with the wife, and I love it!
#9: Fast from tv. I have pretty much given up on tv...I watch Castle, and V...yep, and once in the while the Soup.
#10: Fast from text messaging and social media. Well, yeah, text messaging seems suicidal to me so I've never gotten into that habit, and social media...you mean, like Out of Ur?
What would Url say to that!
Posted By: sheerahkahn | March 4, 2011 12:59 PM
Ever since I became a Lutheran, I have given up giving up stuff...for Lent.
Posted By: Steve Martin | March 4, 2011 9:53 PM
Thank you for the thought-provoking list. It is a challenge.
A new Christian, I participated in Lent last year by giving up the internet except for (a very little) business necessity.
That was a blessing in disguise as I found more time for chores, and writing and reflection. I also felt a lot less anxiety not starting my day with news of wars, crime and disaster.
Spiritual Sacrifice is something I glimpse the value of but don't fully understand. Someone who diets gives up food for a worldly benefit, but someone who fasts does it for intangibles, to show solidarity with the the poor and to glorify God. Ditto for smoking or chocolate etc. Please help me understand it better.
Like a lot in Christianity sacrifice is mysterious to me, but I see and feel the wisdom and joy in it.
The Abbot at Christ in the Desert Monastery in New Mexico recommends these spiritual practices...not speaking unless in response to a question...and not laughing. Another practice is to remember that Christ is walking with you at all times, right by your side.
We are taught to every day, all year, to give up anger, materialism, lust, pride. To be a servant to all. Aren't those a lot tougher than anything on our lists?
Posted By: steve | March 5, 2011 4:15 AM
Steve, thanks for your thoughtful response. Appreciate your personal journey.
From my perspective, you're probably right about the anger, materialism, lust being tougher than on our lists. I think the lists actually aren't the end but rather the provocateur, the catalyst, and what awakens us to our deeper needs, challenges life itself and blessings. Ultimately, drawing us closer to God.
Posted By: dave g | March 5, 2011 7:38 AM
Just a comment. These are all well and good but the point of Lent is not just to give stuff up, but rather to be more intentional about it, right? I can give up something on that list, but have all the wrong motivations and the experience will not be spiritually beneficial at all. Why no discussion about the purposes of giving something up or maybe how to use the time saved towards developing a spiritual discipline? Not saying this in a nasty way, just wondering.
Posted By: Mark | March 7, 2011 12:22 PM
Just FYI, part of the reason people refrained from Meat and Dairy products during Lent was because those products were the most expensive.
It would intentionally free up money for serving the poor.
Fasting has a dual function of the inward discipline and creating an outward life of missional action.
Oh, yeah, Lent is 40 days. You don't fast on the Sundays.
Posted By: nathan | March 7, 2011 1:30 PM
Well another source says"Lent is actually 46 days rather than 40 days. Why? Because the 40 days of Lent are supposed to be days of fasting, which means days of discipline and self-restraint. But Sunday, the day designated as the Lord's day by Christians, should never be a day of fasting, but a day of celebration. So each Sunday Christians suspend Lenten disciplines and celebrate. Lent is 40 "fasting" days spread out over a total of 46 days beginning on Ash Wednesday."
Posted By: D | March 7, 2011 3:39 PM
And why would you want to do this?
Posted By: SuperStar | March 8, 2011 12:46 PM
No sex for Lent? That's an illogical and unhealthy suggestion to anyone who's married. I'm sort of shocked anyone would find that to be good advice.
Posted By: Ashleigh | March 9, 2011 2:51 AM
To this I say: Mr. Gibbons, tell me how these go and perhaps I'll consider them next year. :)
Not locking your doors? Is that a metaphor for hospitality? If it's literal, I think it's unwise. So unless you're fasting from wisdom...
Ashleigh -- I agree to a point; the NT does say abstinence from sex is allowable for the purposes of a period of prayer, so it's not completely "illogical." That said, I don't know that it's the best recommendation, either.
Posted By: Anne | March 9, 2011 11:09 AM
Thanks for an interesting and thoughtful list of suggestions. I've given up TV with the whole family when my kids were all still at home, and it was a wonderful family-building experience. Chocolate another year - not as hard as I thought, being a major chocoholic.
But I live in a part of the world where iced tea (especially sweet tea) is an almost-sacramental part of every meal except breakfast. So this year I've given up iced tea, mostly because I have to think about it (and the spiritual disciplines of Lent) at least twice a day.
Turns out I was drinking enough of it beforehand, so that, when I quit, I got the caffeine-withdrawal headache that I had when I switched from real to de-caf coffee to ease off my BP a bit. So I've already benefitted from that bit of self-discovery. But I've never cared for drinking water with meal, and am finding that a curious change.
My favorite Lenten experience, though, is some kind of fast during Holy Week - at least on Good Friday. Whether it's hours, or the whole day, or Friday-Sunday, or the whole week, I love the time it creates for me to read and pray - even rest - and listen for God's voice.
Posted By: Rhett | March 20, 2011 9:52 PM
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