Why I need to give this up for Lent

Technically speaking, I shouldn’t be writing this post, but I wanted there to be something on my blog if anyone stumbled across it during Lent to explain why there hasn’t been anything new since February 13th. I decided to give up blogging for Lent. Here are several reasons why in particular order.

1) I’m exhausted. Some of you, especially in my family, have commented on the way that I write SO MUCH. This past year, I finally stopped feeling guilty about it. It’s part of my vocation as a pastor. It’s not just a big old ego trip. I’ve been told by multiple bloggers that I needed to blog every day if I wanted to build my audience. The point of doing this is because God has given me at least one book and probably several that I’m supposed to write. Publishing companies in the 21st century ask how many people follow your blog before taking a look at what you have to show them.

2) I need to spend time with my family. I do a lot of writing in the evenings. I am looking forward to being completely available to play with my boys and hang out with my wife.

3) I need a better prayer life. I want to focus this Lent on developing a much better rhythm of prayer which ideally will become a routine in the future. My hope is to pray some version of the hours or at least the morning, noon, and evening prayers from the Book of Common Prayer as a discipline in addition to whatever extemporaneous praying I do.

4) I need to have fun. My wife bought me a banjo for my birthday and I haven’t taken it out of the case yet. I had been complaining every time we would hear bluegrass music about how much I wish I knew how to play the banjo. So I plan to learn how. I will also look forward to reading some books for fun and not just to fill my head with knowledge to spew back out.

So anyhow, I hope you have a wonderful Lent. If you want to read something from me over Lent (please forgive the pretentiousness of saying that), then you can check out my series on Psalm 119. God bless you and may He grant you joy and rest for the next six weeks. Shalom.