Monday, March 7, 2011

Pushing the Reset Button

Growing up in South Louisiana I was one of the only kids in my classes that was not Catholic.  And coming from a mostly Catholic region this time of year is always fun.  After all, tomorrow is Mardi Gras!!  But as soon as the revelry is over the next topic for discussion was always, "What are you giving up for Lent?"  Since I was Lutheran we did not have the tradition of abstaining from something for the 40 days between Mardi Gras and Easter, but as an adult Christian I now see the potential benefit. 

See, sometimes we get into a habit and we don't even realize it until it has almost consumed our way of thinking.  Two Christmases ago I took a sabbatical from Facebook after I started thinking in the form of status updates.  It's not that Facebook is bad, but it had taken over my way of thinking about life!!  Giving up the social network for a month helped me push the "reset" button on my habit.  It helped me moderate how many hours a week I spend being a voyeur into others' lives and most of all it helped me prioritize my time in front of the computer.

Now for this Lent season I am ready to give up something that God has been prompting me about for some time.  You see, I'm addicted....addicted to fast food!! Actually, I love fast food or take out of any kind.  If I could, I would eat out at every meal!  I know that this grosses most of you out and you think, "But Bridgette, don't you love to cook?"  I do love to cook!  What I don't love though is cleaning up the kitchen after I cook, or planning ahead to bring a lunch or snack with Ethan and I as we are out running errands.  It is easier for me to skip the prep work and then just grab us a meal while we are out.  This in itself is not a bad thing, but when my thoughts immediately go to "getting something out" instead of cooking something for my family and over three fourths of my monthly "allowance" goes to eating out, it's time to push the reset button!

Have you ever given up something for Lent (or for any other reason)?  I'd like to hear about it!

2 comments:

Fields said...

I have the fast food addiction too. That is for sure one I need to hit the reset button on. And things that suck my time (like FB, Twitter)

Sara said...

I gave up Facebook and sodas last year for Lent. I think it's time to give up Facebook yet again, as I find myself running to it instead of God's Word...it's been really hitting me hard that I need to do it. It's most definitely time for a reset.