Yes, it's a
great movie, but I'm not talking about submarines!
Today is Forgiveness Sunday, the day on which the Melkite Church and other Byzantine/Eastern Catholic churches begin Great Lent. (The Orthodox Churches start next Sunday, while the Roman Catholics begin with Ash Wednesday.)
I mentioned a while ago that I've been more intentional about taking time to read and pray, to be quiet and listen. It's been so long since I've taken that time, carved that space out, that mostly what I hear is myself, babbling and burbling and jumbling. But there have also been moments of true silence, of hearing
the still, small voice. Great Lent is for me a time of listening, of ignoring the wind and the earthquake and the fire. It is a time of exposing myself and saying, "Here I am, Lord ... speak, for your servant is listening."
Fasting is a key piece of the Eastern churches' observation of Lent: The discipline gives us strength for the journey. This year, our household is adding an electronics fast to our usual abstaining from meat and dairy. We won't be shutting down our computers entirely, but the time between dinner and the boys' bedtime will be screen-free. We are constantly assaulted by the media; just having a little break from that will, I think, be good for us all. It will be game-time, reading time, talking time, quiet time -- time spent anywhere but in front of a tv or computer screen.
I personally am adding a "Facebook fast." No, I won't be completely off Facebook: Given that it is my primary place for interacting with friends and family, that would feel too oppressive and ultimately counter-productive. I will maintain contact with people through messages and playing Scrabble and the like -- actions that are true interactions. But I am blanking out my News Feed. I will not be reading all the inane status updates -- I won't even be seeing them. I won't be "Liking" posts or commenting on links. I won't be getting caught up in the brouhahas and kerfuffles. I won't be sharing news items that have my blood boiling or posting funny quotes. I don't think I'll be posting much of anything at all.
I'm not announcing this on Facebook, because in all honestly, most of my 293 "friends" won't notice. But I'm putting it here, because those friends who
would notice will also read it here. If you need me, I'm available. If you put something on Facebook that I really need to see, send me a message or tag me. Otherwise, I won't see it. If you have my email address, use it.
I will be running silent and, hopefully, running deep.