Lately I've noticed I am very distracted and often find myself on Facebook. The alarming part isn't that I am using Facebook; it's that I often don't know how I got there! I'll be unlocking my phone to check something else and all of a sudden I'll be scrolling through my newsfeed getting distracted. In recent times I have read waaaaaaay too many of the "15 facts you didn't know about..." articles - Can you even call them articles?!
This morning I was trying to pray. I thought it was a good idea to check something on my phone... And before you know it I am reading some random link that I clicked on and I've wasted 15 minutes of my morning.
This isn't the first time this has happened. I'm quite aware of it. But this morning I decided I needed to do something about it... I believe I get my best ideas while I'm showering. And today I pondered what was making me so distracted and the answer came to me: I just check Facebook too much on my phone. So I deleted the app! I got out of the shower, got dressed, picked up my phone and deleted the app! When the "are you sure you want to delete your whole Facebook life" little question reminder popped up I didn't even hesitate! And just like that Facebook was deleted from my phone.
Spot the difference!
Does this mean I won't check Facebook? No. I'm still going to check Facebook! What I am hoping is that I will have more self-discipline, be more intentional about using Facebook and not just wasting time on it, and that I will use all the time I waste on something more productive - or at least is a better use of my time. After one day it has been amazing! What I need to kick next is my addiction to Snapchat!
Every year I make a New Year's resolution. I like to think that I'm not one for making them, but I do! This year I thought I would make it simple: pray everyday, eat healthy and exercise regularly. It doesn't seem that hard... But i am pretty sure I had thrown the baby out with the bath water and completely given up on my resolutions by about 2pm on New Year's Day. Why? Because New Year's Day was just another day; nothing had changed except the date.
I justified eating all the Christmas leftovers and the delicious Nana-tastic treats because come January 1st I would be "good." I would make time for God each day. I would eat healthily, and go back to treats being treats. I would get back into running. I would make choices that were good for me. But that was not the case. I had lunch with some friends on New Year's Day and I travelled interstate. I did not eat healthily and I did not exercise. I can't remember if I made any time for God, but I definitely felt like I failed at some of my New Year's resolution, therefore I failed at the whole thing.
Fast forward two whole months. I spent one whole month away for work in which time I snacked like I have never snacked before! I didn't exercise much because I injured my shoulder and I allowed it to become an excuse. I worked ridiculous hours and put work before sleep, and then sleep before prayer. And I find myself two months into the year and feeling like I missed the point of making a resolution. Making a resolution is about making a decision to do or not do something with firmness or decisiveness. There was nothing firm about the decision I made - I caved after only 14 hours of the 8,760 hours in this year.
Today is Shrove Tuesday. And I feel that tomorrow is another opportunity to make some resolutions. It's like a new year... And how I have approached this past week has been a similar way to my New Year's resolutions, especially today. I ate four Freddo Frogs today. Is this something I would normally do? Nope. But today is all about the feast before the fast. Or at least that's how I justified eating multiple servings more than I normally would... Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent.
This year I have planned what I want Lent to look like. I have decided what I will abstain from, how I will fast, what my alms giving will be and if I will take up anything extra. And I have prepared for this to begin tomorrow in the same way I prepared for my New Year's resolution - by going all out and then cutting everything off completely. My history would expect me to fail. But I know I won't and the reason is Jesus.
When I made a resolution two months ago it was about me. When I wake up tomorrow and stay firm in the decisions I've made for Lent it is because they aren't about me - they're about Jesus. If I had to pick between eating chocolate again and eternal life with Christ I know I would be picking option B. How I live for the next 40 days isn't going to end at Easter; it's a continual journey through life. Whilst giving up a sweet food or bad habit that distracts us from God during Lent might be hard, the challenge is worth it. And I say challenge because if it was easy I wouldn't be giving that up. My small sacrifice will be NOTHING compared to Christ's sacrifice on the Cross; just as my joy at Easter will be nothing compared to the joy of eternal life in union with God.
So here's to a new resolution that I won't give up on at 2pm tomorrow!
Cheers! (Because who drinks anything other than water in Lent!)
