We are not unfamiliar with fasting. And I’ve always stood by the “rule” that fasting is to avoid something you consume with your mouth and discipline is the avoidance of everything else. But, whether that’s a hard fact or not is not a thing that really matters. For this slew of words away. I’ve been reading about things to avoid I’ve never thought about before. Although good for us all to avoid, I’d argue we probably argue or wrestle with these. Allowing them to stay longer than we should. Some more than others. I’d like to mention a few. Ponder and see what you think or if you’ve mastered them…
Speeding past sorrow – I could argue this in a few different lights. I avoid sadness with a large pole to space me from it. I’ll say “see you later” to avoid “good bye.” I skip sad animal ads. No time for that! Ugh! But there’s times when we shouldn’t avoid it. Think about something that lingers because you didn’t grieve it. Maybe a home you moved from or a job you lost or a friend that moved away and you just were ready. Slow.down. Process. It. Don’t get stuck there but don’t run thru the stop sign either.
Isolation – Get out of your comfort zone. Have coffee with someone. Go for a walk. Stop avoiding company. Just a few minutes. Your mental health will thank you!
Fixing it – whew! That one’s hard! Avoid fixing it today. Them. It. Whatever it is. If you are a fixer (hand raised high here) avoid it today! Que the piano and me belting “Ya gotta give it to Jesus!!”
Ok so, you probably want to take a day each to really focus on these. But let’s do another.
Sound – sometimes I crave quiet and sometimes quiet is too loud! Does that make sense? But sometimes we want sound to avoid something. Thoughts. Ourselves. Kids. But what if we avoid the thing that makes us avoid?
Is any of this making sense? Dig deep on your daily habits. Some people observe lent. Don’t fast the candy bars or sugar for lent. Fast your feeling of failure, regret, inability, rejection. The list could go on and on.
You’ll feel better avoiding sugar too! BUT imagine the growth you’ll feel if you drop a few of these unwanted mental visitors! I tell myself to stop allowing them mental real estate! But forget and get in a loop again.
Join me! Won’t you? Let’s agree to pray for one another! That we grow in mental and spiritual bounds this year. Leave the bad in January and start February feeling lighter.
Love ya lots!