So as Ash Wednesday has come and gone the whispers of Lent are all around. As I am in my Junior year of college now I've realized Lent has become a trendy thing here in the south. I have many friends observing Lent who are not necessarily Catholic or Protestant or any religion for that matter. These friends are searching for something. Something to hold them accountable for bettering themselves. Not in a selfish, competitive way but in a spiritual way.
When I was little, giving up chocolate seemed like the best thing I could do for Lent. And if I slipped up and had some M&Ms, my mom would say it's OK and tell me to think of something else not as hard. Now that I am (considered) an adult, I know that giving up something during the forty days of Lent is definitely not meant to be easy. Lent is a time of sacrifice. Sacrifice and thanksgiving.
I like to think of Lent as a second chance to attain a New Years' goal in a more foreseeable time-frame. Your sacrifice should be something that gives way to other goals that you've thought of but maybe not necessarily addressed. Like going to bed early. Going to bed early will make you have to be more organized and structured with your use of time. Then you will start to iron out your priorities and maybe cut out some bad habits like Facebooking well into the night. This ripple effect is what Lent is all about. Doing one small, difficult sacrifice that will better your whole self.
I'm giving up TV. I've noticed recently how I turn to the TV to calm me down when I'm stressed out or facing problems I don't want to deal with. Cutting TV out of my life will force me to turn to some other outlet when stressing over something petty. I'm hoping that outlet will be the Lord. But also, not watching TV will force me to find other things to do with my time. Instead of watching Glee, I'll be reading a book, or working out, or even blogging. All of which help me grow and better my whole self.
So I challenge you to find the right thing to give up this Lenten season. Here's another wonderful blog that can help with some ideas.
11.3.11
9.1.11
New Age Dating
As much as it makes me gag, I must agree with a recent New York Times article on long distance relationships in today’s internet world. Reporter, Abigail Moore, gives a glimpse into the lives of multiple college aged couples who are currently in long distance relationships. The article’s concluding theme emphasizes how the internet is influencing relationships.
Now, you may say “Of course it is.” Since online dating sites come up with all kinds of creative new approaches, curiosity leads even the most antagonistic single person to snoop around such services. We see commercials and hear ads for tons of online dating services like eHarmony, Match.com, and PlentyofFish.com every day. But aren’t websites like Facebook and Skype turning into more frequently used dating sites than these others?
As I get older, I am starting to see how technology influences more parts of my life. To witness my four year old nephew become a master of “Angry Birds” is just one example. I know it must be even more exaggerated for older generations. My father always likes to point out how my brother and I never need to read the instructions manual to know how to use a new cell phone. Technology is meant to influence how we learn and expand our capabilities, but now we count romantic relationships among things the internet touches as well.
Email, Facebook, Skype, iChat, and many other services find a following by helping people keep in touch with others. And what we may not realize they are also doing, is helping maintain long distance relationships. A long distance couple determined to beat the odds will rely heavily on these forms of communication.
Skyping for hours instead of making a phone call or writing a piece of snail mail has become the norm for romances. Facebook lets couples chat like they were sitting next to each other and stay updated with pictures. So many technologies like these are lurking into the development of children entering adulthood. As much as Mark Zuckerberg wanted to make an impression on the world with Facebook, or Tony Bates with Skype, I don’t think they realized how they might be changing the dynamic of dating.
Now, you may say “Of course it is.” Since online dating sites come up with all kinds of creative new approaches, curiosity leads even the most antagonistic single person to snoop around such services. We see commercials and hear ads for tons of online dating services like eHarmony, Match.com, and PlentyofFish.com every day. But aren’t websites like Facebook and Skype turning into more frequently used dating sites than these others?
As I get older, I am starting to see how technology influences more parts of my life. To witness my four year old nephew become a master of “Angry Birds” is just one example. I know it must be even more exaggerated for older generations. My father always likes to point out how my brother and I never need to read the instructions manual to know how to use a new cell phone. Technology is meant to influence how we learn and expand our capabilities, but now we count romantic relationships among things the internet touches as well.
Email, Facebook, Skype, iChat, and many other services find a following by helping people keep in touch with others. And what we may not realize they are also doing, is helping maintain long distance relationships. A long distance couple determined to beat the odds will rely heavily on these forms of communication.
Skyping for hours instead of making a phone call or writing a piece of snail mail has become the norm for romances. Facebook lets couples chat like they were sitting next to each other and stay updated with pictures. So many technologies like these are lurking into the development of children entering adulthood. As much as Mark Zuckerberg wanted to make an impression on the world with Facebook, or Tony Bates with Skype, I don’t think they realized how they might be changing the dynamic of dating.
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