Daffodils are blooming in what passes for a garden in front of my house. Cardinals have returned to my neighborhood. Today I ran (slowly) around the lakes in my favorite park in shorts and a T-shirt. Despite the fact that I am keeping the now brush in my car (I did use it just last week after all), I think spring has arrived for real where I live.
I hope you all are enjoying whatever season these days after Easter brings you. I arrived at Easter more rested, happier, and more at peace than I began 2025. I attribute it to some choices I made back in early March.
This year I observed Lent, the time between March 5 and April 19 this year, by practicing what I named a “Fritter-Free Fast and Focus Forty.” (Yes, I know. Alliteration is one of my weaknesses. I’m sorry.)
What this meant for me was a fast from social media and also the news app. I had been wasting so many hours scrolling, becoming so disheartened by the constant barrage, and neglecting to fill my time and mind with life and light—I knew something needed to change. So I chose this practice to increase my mental health and make space for things true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
My 5F practice went pretty well. I did need to deliberately choose other activities during down-time, but in general, it was a relief to stay away from those time-sucking apps. I tried to “focus” on useful, healthy alternatives. This meant work and chores, of course, but also resting, nurturing relationships, cultivating my spiritual life, moving my body, appreciating nature, and engaging with books, music, and art.
Although Lent was the impetus for my 5F practice, I am going to repeat it periodically as I seek to follow the way of Jesus, maybe not always for forty days (there are lots of options: four, five, fifteen, for today…). I learned that following Jesus with courage requires me to make space and be intentional about how I spend my days and how I occupy my mind.
I offer this idea to you, not as a prescription or requirement for being good, but with a humble confession that my soul needed it and I found it helpful. Maybe that’s true of you too.
I’d love to hear about experiences you have had with a fast and focus period. What did you shed? What did you gain?
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