Lent

For Lent this year, I decided to both observe the spiritual fast and sacrifice Facebook.  However, there was something else I knew I should have given up in order to focus more on my relationship with God: boys. More specifically gentlemen callers. As it were, I picked Facebook on Ash Wednesday and thought, "Oh well, maybe next year I will forgo men" and thought I was in the clear. Then the church that my roommate and I often attend declared a church-wide fast to begin Sunday March 14th. For the past two weeks, my roommate has been finishing off all the sugar-filled items she has in the apartment in preparation for her sugar fast. I looked on thinking to myself, "I couldn't fast any kind of food, especially sugar! I have heard of the Daniel Fast, but I don't really feel led to do that either." So I helped her eat her cinnamon rolls believing that I was supporting her.

Then, Saturday afternoon, I could not ignore the fact that I had succeeded in having two gentlemen calling on me at the same time. So shady, so not me. I didn't want to turn either of them away for different reasons, but I also didn't see myself long term with either of them as well. My roommate reminded me of the fast and how I could fast anything, not just food. And there was my solution. I could tell both men that I decided to join my church fast and that for the next three weeks, I would be off the market. It will give me the space I need to gently but firmly break things off with both guys, but more importantly help give me the room and focus in my life I should have sought initially from my observance of Lent. After my mini-mardi gras last night, I am ready to repent and be absolved of my sins and embrace the dating life that God calls me into.

Day One: After the remnants of mini-mardi gras were cleaned away (aka sent home), I slept for eight more hours, missed church, mourned the loss of the spring forward hour, and spent the night helping a friend from class do his laundry, watch a movie, and eat dinner. He's way younger, totally not dateable, so I figured hanging with guys who are already friends and who haven't expressed romantic feelings is fine. I hope to spend more time in the word so I am going to make a trip over to the Christian Family Bookstore for a study aid to help structure my readings over the next three weeks. I am also looking forward to inviting God back into my life and engaging in conversations with Him more than saying grace or the errant prayer.