Week 32: Lenten Conditioning & An Important Announcement.
Weekly Digital Detox Reflections
Peace be with you, kind readers! Welcome to The Endeavor. We are now 32 weeks into my year-long weekly digital detox reflections project. For any of you new readers, the concept is pretty straightforward. Every day, I attempt to adhere to a routine of digital minimalism. Every week, typically on Thursday or Friday, I publish reflections on how the week has gone and what I’ve been thinking about. If you are interested in my routine and a few examples of these reflections, I will direct you here, here, or here. If you enjoy what you find, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I’ve got two very young children, and student loans pay off. Plus, life isn’t cheap, so I would greatly appreciate it if you feel generous!
Regress Report
I must be honest with you all. In terms of using digital technology, I’ve regressed. Let me explain!
For many Christians, myself included, this is the season of Lent. Lent is a solemn observance in the liturgical year where we remember Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness, where Satan tempted him before beginning His ministry. It is customary that Christians choose something to give up (fast) for 40 days. It’s up to each individual what they will give up. My initial plan this year was to give up Podcasts and audiobooks. I thought this was a good plan because it would be difficult but not impossible. But a conversation I had with a friend about Lent changed my mind. During this conversation, he explained that the idea for your lenten fast was to give up something you would like to give up permanently, even after lent is over. This leads to a practice where you give up something you know is bad for you or has too big a hold on your life each year, and eventually, you will rid yourself of such things. I thought this was wonderful because it could help put what you choose to give up into proper perspective and help you make a better choice. For instance, many people give up coffee for Lent, which is very challenging! But why put yourself through the rigors of giving up coffee for Lent when you know you have zero intention of giving up coffee for good? Perhaps instead, consider fasting from fast food. It might be challenging, but we all know we shouldn't be eating fast food regularly, and Lent would be an excellent way for you to break that habit if that is one of your bad habits.
With this new perspective, I was torn on what to fast from. I have no intention of completely giving up podcasts or audiobooks, so what should I do? This is where I can say, “Thank God for good wives!”. Quickly and unknowingly, my wife helped me decide with a wish that I would quit drinking energy drinks. Like many blue-collar, working-class Americans, I have developed a habit of consuming energy drinks. For the past few years, I have regularly consumed Celcius energy drinks because they are supposed to be the healthiest option, which is a silly thing to say because I know there is nothing healthy about any energy drink. Some may be less bad for you than others, but it’s probably safe to say none are good for you. Anyway, my decision had been made. No more energy drinks! What does this have to do with my use of digital technology? If you’ve read up on my routine, you know that I work in complete silence one day a week. No streaming music, podcasts, or audiobooks, and no radio.Just silence. Well, last week, on my day of silence, I was struggling to resist the urge to buy myself an energy drink. My job has me frequenting convenience stores which means I was having to look at all my favorite drinks over and over and over again. Finally, to stop myself from thinking about it, I turned on some music and distracted myself from the temptation. It worked! I decided then that for the rest of Lent, I would allow myself more music, podcasts, or audiobooks as long as they glorified God and helped me with my fast. I hope that by the end of Lent, I will be stronger, no longer desire energy drinks, and can begin to have days of silence again.
Where My Thoughts Have Been
As you can probably guess given my regress report, my thoughts have been fixated on Lent. Particularly on the struggle the season entails and the purpose of such a struggle. To recognize this Lenten season as a period of purification in the present for the purposes of the future is to see Lent as a season of conditioning. Any athlete or enthusiast of any discipline is familiar with conditioning. For the athlete, conditioning means weeks or even months of strength and endurance training and practice of the skills particular to your sport in preparation for the upcoming season of competition. I recall my senior year of high school when I finally realized the purpose, impact, and importance of conditioning. As summer was coming to a close, those of us who knew we would be on the cross-country team began conditioning early. We began meeting three times a week to meet up and run. The first couple of weeks were brutal, but by the time school started in August, those of us who had participated in early conditioning were already miles ahead (see what I did there?) of those who did not and were ready to begin the season. In this time of Lenten conditioning, we are disciplining ourselves through prayer and fasting, relying on God for our strength and sustenance. We do this so that when challenges arise, we need not panic for we have already practiced relying on God. It is a worthy and worthwhile endeavor to use this time to begin a lifelong effort of conforming our wills to His. This requires self awareness, a willingness to admit our limitations, and humility to lean on God especially when we recognize more conformity is needed, which leads to a decision I don’t like but must make.
A Difficult But Necessary Announcement
After weeks of trying to come up with a strategy or plan for how I may complete this 52-week project, I recognize I simply cannot continue and am suspending this project. I’m not happy about this. I truly hate quitting and that’s what this feels like, but to continue would be a selfish decision ignoring family and work. I have a standard for myself and for the work I publish and I cannot continue at this weekly pace and give you my best effort.
When I started this project, I had several goals in mind. One was of course a lifestyle of digital minimalism. I won’t claim to have achieved that goal, but I am far closer to it than I was 32 weeks ago and have set myself up for a future of digital minimalism. Ironically this project has kept me more digitally connected than I want and by suspending this effort I will be able to make more progress. Another goal of mine was to gain confidence in writing and publish regularly and that has been achieved. I’m no longer timid about writing or publishing my work. I don’t know what my schedule will be moving forward but I promise you I will continue to come to your inbox with work I believe to be important.
I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have offered your time and support along the way. Part of me feels like a bit of a failure for calling it quits but I trust that by now you know my relationship with Christ, my family and my job are my priorities and I must honor them as best I can even if that means giving suspending this project that has meant so much to me.
I cannot wait to move forward and continue to grow as a writer and communicator. I hope you, faithful readers, will stay with me as I go.
Thank you again for all of your support. Go in peace and may God bless you and your family.
Benediction
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, sinners.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV
Thank you for reading! Do your best to disconnect from the artificial and connect with others.
And as always,
Keep thy head cool and thine eyes true.
Howard Pyle, Men of Iron
Scripture of the Week
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:27 KJV
Word of the Week
(adjective) Verbose- expressed in more words than needed.
Why verbose? A friend used it in a conversation last week, and I thought, “That’s a good word.”
Music of the Week
We Labor Unto Glory - The Porter’s Gate, Featuring Liz Vice, Josh Garrels and Madison Cunningham
It sounds like your new Lenten fast is healthier overall, but I found your reflection quite interesting because my pastor's reflection last week was actually the total opposite of your conclusion. He discussed how fasting in the Christian tradition is more derived from the Jewish sacrificial tradition; that we fast from something precisely because it's good for us and while we train ourselves for the moral life by self-mortification, we're reminded that all belongs to the Lord. For example, often the saints followed the example of Christ by fasting from bread. It's not because bread is bad for us, but precisely because it is good that our sacrifice points to the greater good of God.
That being said, I do believe God works in us in various ways, and there are no "rules" to "giving up" things for Lent despite the common ken.
On a more personal note, I'm a bit relieved because I was about to write out an entire outline of a retreat I'm posting today on my Substack - with your digital fast in mind. I may still include some notes, but not quite what I was originally planning. 🤭
Finally, while I accept your kind apologies for changing the plan here, I don't see the need for shame in following God's direction for you and your family.
Peace, friend!
From one Dad to another (who is also slowing down on writing in order to focus more on the family’s needs) be at peace. The Lord will continue to provide us with opportunities to write with greater frequency as He sees fit so long as we prioritize what is most important to Him.