I have to admit it, I am attached to my laptop. I have had it for six years and never traveled without it. But today, I had the material on it stored and the computer cleaned so I could trade it in for another one. A free one as part of a settlement over a defective part. As I carried it off to Fed-Ex, I ran my hand over its case and said “thank you.” How could I become so attached to a machine?
I have always had trouble parting with my old cars…each one. My head says that having a new one makes sense. My heart says the old one is fine. I know the old well, we get along, it seems solid. I hope I like the new computer which will be awhile coming. In the meantime, I am writing on my small notebook. I am glad I have it but we aren’t getting along very well. It does weird things!
In the midst of taking care of the computer, I realized that today is Ash Wednesday. When I was a Pastor, I would be preparing for a Service tonight. While I knew this would be Ash Wednesday, there was nothing specific to remind me. Now, I see that I have given something up for Lent, my computer. Every time I wrestle with this notebook, I will remember that it is Lent. I will observe Lent in other ways too, of course, in personal devotions and with human companions in worship.
Lent is 40 days. I am giving up ny computer for at least 40 days. I am giving something up to get something back. We are fortunate when it works that way. Maybe it works that way more often than we know, if only we could see. Hopefully, in this period when we are especially mindfulm we can gain clarity.