I’m about 2 weeks into my Lent fast and so far it hasn’t been very hard.
Womp womp.
I really thought it would be!
I’m a social media addict for Pete’s sake.
But I’m finding it to be wonderfully refreshing.
Not having the apps on my phone or iPad has been terrific in terms of keeping me accountable.
I totally think i’d sneak peeks otherwise.
I do kind of miss Instagram.
I really enjoy taking and sharing pictures on a daily basis, and I find that I’m not even taking many photos since starting the fast.
And then I think, “Why is that?”
Why am I not taking pictures just because I can’t post them on Instagram?
Am I that much of an attention whore that it’s not worth capturing the photo if I can’t share it and receive feedback?
Boy, that’s an ugly thought.
I’m not even sure that’s why, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility.
I’m terrible about printing pictures, so I think having them all in one place online (i.e. Instagram) makes me feel like they are in some kind of album.
And I’m such a goofball, I frequently stalk my own pictures on Instagram. LOL
But I digress…
My last few Lent seasons have been very challenging, so this feels unfamiliar.
I’m probably trying to recreate the awesome experience I had a few years ago when I participated in Lent for the first time in many years.
God really used that fast to speak to me and change my heart.
I am prone to want experiences more than I want God.
Just God.
Not the feelings or the emotions or the spiritual highs, just Him.
If there’s no hardship from the fast, is it “spiritual enough”?
If there’s great hardship from the fast, does it really draw me to Him?
Is He the real prize I’m chasing?
Living social media free has created space in my life.
But I’m still filling it.
With tv, blog reading, movie watching, organizing, purging, daydreaming.
Not with Him.
Oh how weak we are!
It’s a good thing that’s where He does his best work :)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
My prayer for the remainder of the fast is to remain quiet in the free moments.
Quiet to hear Him.
Quiet to receive from Him.
I know that will be challenging even if the actual fast isn’t.
The Lent season isn’t over yet, but the St. Patty’s one is.
Before I take down all the decorations, I thought it would be fun to snap a few photo and share them here :)
I also wanted to pass along this great blog post about the real St. Patrick. It really touched me and gave me a different perspective on who he was and why his life is cause for celebration.
Stringing these inexpensive foam shamrocks on a ribbon was a fun way to jazz up the (dusty) living room mirror.
When Grace and I were at Hobby Lobby in Gaylord, I grabbed a cheap pack of sparkly shamrocks in varying sizes.
We had fun finding places around the house to tuck them.
Hoarding the chocolate coins from Grace’s stocking ended up being the right decision. Their wrappers make the perfect gold in our Pot ‘o gold craft :)
For dinner on Monday we had corned beef with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. I’ve never made it before but it turned out great! You pretty much throw everything into a giant pot of water and boil the heck out of it. The potatoes were added in the last hour and I think I’ll add the cabbage then next time. I put it in with the beef in the beginning and it cooked so much that it was hard to gather it up from the water.
I’m so glad the meal turned out so well and I’m excited to make it again next year. I’m a sucker for traditions :)
Laurie Kroll says
You are so creative and that meal looks amazing!!! I continue to be so very proud of you sweetie!!!
Rebecca says
Thank you so much for all your sweet comments mom! And even more for giving me a love of cooking!