Lent unplugged

A few days after Lent started, I was driving down the road thinking about what I’d heard others say they were giving up. I spontaneously told God, “If there’s anything you’d like me to give up, let me know.”

One word instantly came to mind: television.

Where did that come from?

This wasn’t what I had expected. First, prior to this brief conversation with God, I felt no conviction to give up anything for Lent. Second, I really like watching TV. Along with movies, books, and other pop culture mediums, TV has become one of the ways I connect my faith to people in the culture around me. I even write columns about it.

But I’ve been walking with God long enough not to dismiss a possible prompting of the Spirit. Of course, my husband thought it was a great idea. (Unlike me, his idea of a good location for the TV is the garage or, better yet, the curb.) So, he agreed to keep me accountable as I gave up all 80-plus channels on our cable-connected TV, except for occasional news and weather. Just like that, my daily doses of dramas, sitcoms, and documentaries were silenced.

I hate to admit it, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Not unplugged enough

Lent is a time to reflect on the suffering of Christ, to connect with God, and to listen to his voice. That’s hard to do when it’s so noisy – and our culture is good at producing noise.

When I turned off the TV, I began to hear noise in its many other forms. One of my first instincts was to immediately replace the TV with something else, like the radio or music. After I cut back on those, I found myself tempted to use all that time I spent watching TV for “worthwhile” activities, like reading books, cleaning the house, or projects I’d put off.

While those things aren’t bad in themselves, they can become just another source of noise during a season when we are listening for God’s voice. Noise can be everything from television to our tendency towards a constant barrage of activities. It’s whatever we put in place of silence.

Practicing silence

In Celebration of Discipline Richard Foster writes, “Our fear of being alone drives us to noise and crowds. We keep up a constant stream of words even if they are inane. We buy radios that strap to our wrist or fit over our ears so that if no one else is around at least we are not condemned to silence. T.S. Eliot analyzed our culture so well when he wrote, ‘Where shall the world be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.’ ”

Even Christians fear silence. Sometimes it’s because we’d have to face God and we’d rather not. Sometimes it’s because we don’t know what to say to God. Whatever the reason, we’re tempted to clutter our world with noise and people in order to avoid being alone.

In answer to this, our spiritual forebears have long valued the discipline of solitude. It gives us the freedom to be alone in order to hear God better.

Jesus is our example. He frequently sought solitude, including 40 days alone in the desert, hours alone in the hills or “a lonely place,” as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his death. This outward solitude cultivates an inward “heart solitude,” says Foster. If we can experience inner solitude, we won’t use people to get away from God. Instead, God can use us more meaningfully with others.

Not just for Lent

During this Lenten season, I’ve started to hear God more. I’m quieter inside. I notice more and talk less. I spend extra time on the floor with my kids and less time trying to figure out the next thing I have to get done. I’m beginning to notice people’s needs and face my own selfishness.

While my husband wishes my new-found insights would mean the TV was a goner, I’m planning weeks throughout the year when the TV will stay off. I’m even considering occasional “media fasts” – no newspaper, TV, internet, radio, movie, or recorded music.

What started as a spontaneous comment to God has opened a door I never knew was there. God is good that way. He gives you what you need rather than what you expect.

Carmen Andres lives in Alabama. She previously served as editor of the Christian Leader, a periodical published by the U.S. Conference of MB Churches. She blogs at intheopen.blogspot.com.