Facebook Fast

Well, my pastor, friggin Ryan Parish, challenged everyone at church two weeks ago to decide by last week something that we would be willing to give up for a week.  My first thought was Coke Classic, because it is my biggest dietary vice.  I once punched my husband because he wouldn't go buy me some soda.  (Thankfully, that was an isolated incident, I didn't even remotely hurt him, though I am pretty sure I hurt myself, and it has now become a source of amusing but snarky comments when we are running low in the fridge.)  I have at various times in my life attempted to give it up because I KNOW it's horrible for me.  But sweet, sweet Coca-Cola is so delicious.

However, my soda consumption has never really been a hindrance with my faith.  What Ryan was really challenging us to do was give up the thing(s) which distracted us from the Kingdom.  Things that we did to "kill time."  Things that were preventing us from achieving our purpose.  I tried to think of things that probably would be difficult but not really.  I tried to skirt around what I knew was the best choice.  I tried not to talk to Drew about it because I knew he would say I should give up what I knew I should and as soon as he said it, I would have to admit it and actually DO it. But dagnabbit if Drew didn't bring it up while we were trapped in the car together (also known as "driving home from church")!

So, I gave up Facebook for a week.

I thought before I started that I might wither away and die because I have an incredibly intense FOMO.  Somehow, I did not.  Partly because my mother is even nosier ("I like to call it curious") than I am and was able to still fill me in on Important Updates, like letting me know my sister was fine after the tornadoes in her state, though she did have to go to the basement.  I did find it frustrating when I needed to convey information, since FB is my primary source of communication with most people now.  I also felt lonely at times, cut off from my friends, once again because it is my primary source of communication.

However, the times when I just typically open my Facebook app and peruse everyone's meals and political gripes because I'm bored ended up being filled with something much better.  Something I hadn't even realized I had replaced with selfies of my friends and intense discussions about grammar. I filled that space with conversations with God.  We didn't have any new revelatory discussions, but they weren't rushed, obligatory chats, either.  I actually *talked* to God, and allowed Him to respond.  I had time to let the sense of gratitude for all the blessings I have received wash over me.  I had time to earnestly pray for people I love.  I had time to ask for wisdom.

When we say we don't have time for prayer or meditation, it is a lie.  The truth is that we don't wish to make it a priority over other things, whether it's work, cooking dinner, sleeping, reading, exercising, zoning in front of the TV, taking a bath, or spending time reading BuzzFeed.  Some of the things we do instead are indeed important: we need to work, we need to eat, we need to sleep.  Most are not.

I'm not going to lie.  I'm looking forward to getting back on Facebook and finding out what I missed.  However, I'm glad I took a week off to find out what I was *really* missing.