Tammy On Tuesday ~ Learning How To Be Hungry

PINIMAGE

Well, we’ve been quarantined for a while now. I’m not even going to try to figure out the days.  Let’s just say in the world of breaking and making new habits, we’ve had ample time to do so. Don’t they say it takes seven weeks to form a habit?  We’ve exceeded that and habits have most likely been formed.  This can be really good and it can be really bad.

For instance, at the beginning of this quarantine season, I was making a habit of eating…really good foods in really big quantities.  I was eating early.  I was eating late.  It was like a big party that never ended except for the fact that I went to bed feeling overstuffed and woke up puffy and sluggish.  One morning I thought it might be a good idea to try on a pair of jeans.

That was the first day of forming a new habit.

I have to say, this habit of making better food choices has had a tremendous effect on me in every way.  This is not new news.  In fact, I don’t think I could say anything to you today that hasn’t already been said by someone somewhere.  However, like the “jeans-test” maybe you just need a wake-up call.  But I’m not talking about food.

One habit I’m sure many are more readily taking to is the consumption of more social media hours.  It makes sense.  But is it healthy?  Forget WHAT we are consuming.  That could and should be a whole other post.  Just the habit of scrolling.  That can be a habit!

Speaking of habits, the other night, my son Hudson came into my room and wanted to share with me a habit he wanted to break.  He told his student pastor Danny and asked if he could also share it with his peers.  I figured he says it best so I’m sharing it with you today.

After Hudson left my room that night, I decided I should do the same…make a new habit by removing social media apps from my phone.  I did it mainly in support of him, to show him I stand with him in his decision. I decided I can look at social media when at my computer but it wouldn’t hurt to scale back to a large degree.

PINIMAGE

I’ve gone two days without the apps and I have found myself unconsciously grabbing my phone to “pass the time.”  I was doing this A LOT the first day.  I quickly felt the void removing this habit left.   I fed on social media so much, I hadn’t been allowing myself to be hungry for anything else.

The book Hudson quoted in the video spoke to the dilemma so effectively.  It goes on to say,

“All of us keep things in our lives that dampen our hunger for God, so we never feel the deep hunger pangs off our souls.  We are always full but never satisfied.”  (The Possibility of Prayer, John Starke)

You might also recall Hudson quoting from the book,

“Healthy rhythms of solitude and even boredom, supported by resistance to technology, can bring surprising richness and refreshment to our lives.”

So, surprising richness and refreshment can be acquired by learning to be hungry?  Through boredom?

Maybe you’re saying, “I have a good balance when it comes to mindless scrolling and other temptations of social media.”  Just to be sure, maybe you should ask a loved one about their thoughts on your habit.

Maybe it’s time for a new habit.

I have to be honest, I am surprised at how conditioned I’ve become to fill my mind.  The idea of boredom is uncomfortable because it requires thought and creativity to climb out of it.  Now, I’m using those uncomfortable times to be more present, to be more in-tune with God’s voice, to relax, to enjoy my family, to exercise trust in God, to pray.

I’m doing this by learning to be hungry.

Did I tell you it wouldn’t be easy? It’s the same as cutting out excessive junk food that weighs you down.  You won’t like it at first. But maybe it’s time for a new habit.

What about you?   Could you turn off your apps and expand the space for God to work, to speak?  I challenge you. Let’s do it together – get into the habit of learning to be hungry.