Goodbye, Elevator

Lent has arrived once more.  In past years I’ve given up chocolate, meat, and Facebook, and all of them have been challenging in their own way to say the least.  It made me realize that I don’t need chocolate, I hate Facebook, and I would never be a vegetarian.

However, I still consume excessive amounts of chocolate and check Facebook way too many times every day.   During the 40 days last year it was a relief for me to not have Facebook at all.  I didn’t waste my day away doing nothing and it gave me time to do important thing in my day—plus I wasn’t consumed with information about everyone else’s lives. 

This year I decided to do something a little different.  I didn’t give up something that I can consume, and I didn’t give up social networking or media or sweets. 

I gave up the elevator.  Well, elevators period. 

Goodbye, Elevator.

But “the elevator” mostly refers to the elevator in my dorm.  I live on the sixth floor, so six stories of stairs is a sufficient climb.  I figured if Jesus died on a cross for my sins I can easily climb six flights of stairs every time I leave the dorm or come back.

People view Lent in different ways.  Some people get rid of the things that distract them from their faith, while others give up things that are unhealthy for them in order to honor the body Jesus gave them.  I wouldn’t say the elevator distracts me from my faith and I guess it can be considered healthy to not use it, but I mostly gave it up to have a constant reminder of what Jesus did for me. 

I figured I can also use it as I time of prayer.  Taking the stairs takes longer than the elevator, so why not pray every time I’m climbing them?

It’s going to be good for me to get off my lazy bum and add a little more exercise to my life, and a little more one on one time with God.  Sometimes I get so busy running around I don’t take time to thank God for everything I have, or time to pray for my friends and family.

Overall, it’s going to be beneficial.  I’m a little worried I’ll end up going somewhere and having to climb to the 40^th story of some building, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.  And if it does happen, I’ll just be praying the whole time. 

If I like this enough, which I think I will, I might just make it a habit.

It would be a good one to keep.