On a recent college visit with my daughter, we arrived, signed in, were gathered and ushered into a holding room, and sat down to wait for her audition.” As I took my seat, I looked around the room and saw the same thing: People were on their phones. As soon as new people entered the room and sat down, they immediately reached for their phones. Sadly, I have to admit, I did the same thing. Today’s culture has imprinted technology on our brains as something that we have to have to survive. It is the air we breathe. After a few minutes, I thought, “We have been conditioned to fear boredom.” I quickly turned to my daughter to test my theory, and she said, “Yes, it is true. It is like a security blanket.”
Lent began five days ago. Lent is the season of preparation before Easter. It is a time of inward reflection where one embraces a more simplistic lifestyle. It is a time of increased spiritual disciplines so that one focuses more on their relationship with God. Annie Dillard famously wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I wonder how our days are shaped, regardless if we know it, by our practices, different daily rituals, that make us who we are. Some of those rituals stem from our faith, others from the culture around us.
Therefore, with the remaining days of Lent, would you be willing to push against the culture that imprints the fear of boredom by grabbing your phone? Granted, it might be impossible to go off the grid for 40 days. But, I bet we could limit our access so that we can focus on something more basic, something foundation forming to our identity—who we are in Christ. Give it a try.
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This week’s reading:
Monday – Ephesians 6
Tuesday – Philippians 1
Wednesday – Philippians 2
Thursday –Philippians 3
Friday – Philippians 4
Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.