Lent Day 4… Put Down The Damn Cell Phone & Smell The Roses
Many of us consider what we could (should) give up for Lent. Some of us at least make an effort—to give up meat, or sugar, or coffee, or social media, or…
I wonder if the things we are temporarily giving up are little prophetic windows into our soul. I wonder if, on the deepest level, we know that our lives would be better without these things—altogether.
Consider this quote from German filmmaker Werner Herzog:
I do not have a cell phone, for cultural reasons. I do not want to be available all the time. I prefer to have a conversation with no phones on, nobody under the table texting or answering a message. And I’m not into any social network. My social network is our dinner table, which seats maximum six people. My wife, me, and four guests maximum.
Of course, I want to immediately temper and contextualize his comment. I want to affirm this position for HIM, while justifying MY need for a cell phone. I want to acknowledge the general sensibility of his statement… that being fully present with those we love should always mean that our cellphones are put away, out of reach. But at the same time, I want to justify my need for a cell phone.
I’m wrestling with myself. I’m asking the question: whatever ideas I came up with of things I could fast during Lent—do I really need these things ever? Is it possible that my soul is trying to tell me something about living free, healthy, and whole?
I wonder. What do you think?
Maybe next year I will give up swearing for Lent.
I am a husband, father, pastor, leader & reader. I love God, love people & love life.
I wonder that same thing. Or, what’s the use giving something up if I’m just going to go back to it at the end of Lent? But I see it as a reminder of being human, limited, finite, and purposefully living with that in mind, even if just for a time.
Great question and thought to wrestle with.
“A window into our soul…”
-Selah
Maybe if we put down something for 40 days, we’ll want less of it after that.
I resisted getting a cell phone at all for several years, but then was given a pointed hint at work that I should have one. Then the nature of my work required that I graduate to a smart phone. I was reluctant at first, but now …
I’ve been thinking about taking a vacation without the phone (which seems to be evolving into something between a muse and a ball and chain) and wondering what that would feel like and how it would change me. For the better.