…that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself…
— Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Although the majority of Christians would agree that Easter is the most significant date on the Christian calendar, if we are honest it usually doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves.
Maybe because the date changes every year it is difficult to get into the rhythm every year to plan and prepare. As a result, it can often feel as if Easter simply sneaks up on us.
And, part of the enjoyment of an event is the anticipation.
A child longing for the presents under the tree…the pregnant woman wanting to hold her baby…a baseball fan eager for opening day…an engaged couple counting down the days until the wedding.
Creating space in our busy lives to anticipate Easter is one of the benefits of Lent. Although a completely optional spiritual practice, Lent reminds Christians that Easter is coming. And the beauty of participating in the practice of Lent with our church community is that we can remind each other that Easter is coming.
This year, the church leadership wondered if asking everyone to give up something similar would help make this sometimes solitary spiritual discipline a community experience.
With the current dialogue at Calvary about technology through the Sunday night Rewire series, giving up some source of technology seemed to be a natural connection to what the Lord was teaching us a congregation.
How does technology help us anticipate Easter?
The pervasive and constant presence of technology in our lives makes giving up something technological a frequent and recurring reminder that Easter is coming. If you usually post or check Facebook four times a day, you will now have the blessing of 160 reminders that Easter is coming.
Omitting a technology from our lives can force us to slow down and experience life. As a family we gave up the dishwasher. We now have several minutes every evening where we are all working together to complete the task of cleaning up from our day to remind each other that Easter is coming.
Technology whispers in our ear that we are independent of God, and turning off some form of technology allows the anticipation of Easter to shout that we are utterly dependent on our creator.
Technology always disappoints. While great good has come of technology, few (if any) technologies live up to their promises. Removing technology from our lives reminds us that because of the resurrection, Easter always satisfies.
Looking forward to Easter with you,
Jim and Lisa