In planning for our family’s Lenten devotions for this year, Roy and I remembered back to the blessings of the hurricane last year. I say blessings, because despite the fact that we were without power for 5 days, there were actually blessings that came from this deprivation.
So to recreate that to a very small degree, we decided to fast from light and electronic entertainment devices on Saturday evenings during Lent. Last night was our first attempt.
There is something quiet about turning off artificial light sources at night. And because the light we used (kerosene lanterns) was centralized to one location, the family was naturally drawn to be together and to interact.
As we dined by the lanterns, I told the kids how people pay big bucks to dine by candlelight!
After dinner, we gathered around the fire and played games that didn’t require light but got everyone involved. The younger children then headed off to bed, and we read quietly at the table by the flickering lamps.
There’s a natural desire to turn in early when the lights are low and the house is quiet.
It’s all a good thing.
One of the boys just asked if we could do it again tomorrow!
And so our Lenten “fast” has turned into a somewhat longed for weekly feast of the family, in this day where families are so easily scattered by so many distractions both outside of and, perhaps more importantly, right inside our own homes.
We have discovered that deprivation can yield a surprising harvest. May your family’s fast become a feast.
Morning Star Meadows Farm 