A Blogging Fast?

Several of you have commented on my lack of blog posts for the past month or two. I could come up with a good excuse ("I took a blogging fast for Lent"). However, that would be untrue.

The truth is I've gotten out of the habit of regular blogging. Isn't it interesting that good habits are so hard to instill and so easy to break? It took me two months to become a 3-4 times a week blogger. I kept up that pace for nearly one and a half years.

How long did it take me to become an infrequent blogger? About one day. Once I got out of the habit, it became self-perpetuating. Each morning, instead of writing a blog, I started writing on a Bible study book that's due at the end of the summer. I need to write 4 pages/day to keep on schedule. After I finished writing, usually around noon, I convinced myself that I had already used up my creative energy for the day.

What happened to my blogging can happen in nearly any area of life. If we don't discipline ourselves to maintain good habits, they easily disappear. Since a virtue is a "habit of character," the consequences for lack of discipline in this area can be disastrous.

I'm committing myself to becoming more regular (at least once a week) in my blog posts. But, I may need to take another blogging fast from time to time. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. Come to think of it, patience and understanding are good habits to have. I'm glad I'm helping you instill them!

An Internet Fast

I've written about food fasts and verbal fasts. So what about an Internet fast? As a blogger, I realize that this idea goes against my own self-interest-- those who aren't on the Internet aren't going to be reading any blogs.

Yet, the value of fasting can apply to the Internet. There was a front page article in yesterday's New York Times about the dangers of too much of our time being occupied with smart phones, Blackberries, computers, and video games. Having the technology to be online for 24/7 can become an addiction to stimulation. This technology can control us rather than us controlling it.

The main danger this article pointed to was mental: we can become so distracted by multi-tasking that our ability to focus and complete tasks is diminished. We are literally being driven to distraction by all of the devices we have.

What are the possible benefits of an Internet fast? First, it can show us that we can live without all of these communication devices. Secondly, we can become aware of how much time the Internet is taking and how much stress it is causing. Thirdly, a fast can free up time to do some of those things that feed our souls: walking in a place of natural beauty, relaxing on a beach, playing a sport, or praying and meditating.

For the next 10 days, I will be taking an Internet fast due to a trip to Peru. Fasting will be easy for me because I won't have access to the Internet while hiking and camping on the Inca trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu. I won't be writing blogs during this time but will blog about this trip after I return. I guess I'll be taking a blog fast as well!