Lenten Break
February 27th, 2006 by Northern FarmerThings are going good around here with the weather cooperating, just a bit below freezing and sunny out. We’ll have to start some seeds in a few days, been holding back enough on that. I’ll be off the computer for a bit, well, for forty days and forty nights starting Wednesday. I figure I want to simplify for a bit, nothing electronic, the way I used to live. So this Lenten season this will be one of the things in the forty day fast. There’s a lot more, but this is the only one that affects this blog. And note, I’ll be off the computer entirely, so I won’t be lurking around the sites here. Tomorrow evening before bed I’ll shut off the comments of this blog so I don’t have to worry about any nutcases coming in and commenting while I’m not tending it.
Now, I truly enjoy this blog and all the Christian Agrarian blogs, but I do hope people understand that I’ve been giving it an extra effort so that this community would grow and thrive. I think it has reached that point with so many good folks from all over getting in on it. I truly love it. I just ask for a break, living simple, reading the Good Book, going to our Bible Believing Church as often as possible, hoping see a huge Revival take place around here. I want to be a part of that, more than anything this season. I want to have time to write some real letters on real paper and correspond with folks. Fact is I’ve corresponded on the computer over 900 times since getting this new one in September, so I hope people can see that the blog does take some of my time. That also explains why it takes me a bit to get back to people, sometimes I’m swamped. It should also explain why replies on the blog are so short when I have a list of e-mails to go through that’s almost always behind. Oh, what I’d do for being able to go to the mailbox at the end of the driveway and receive a real letter instead of junk mail. I used to correspond with folks from all over the world by real mail, and it was great. Then came “progress†and we bought our first computer in 2000. Grrrrr….. I still have pictures and letters from years ago, but in the computer age almost everything I ever received on my old computers was lost.
So, it’ll be forty days of Praising the Lord, reading the Word, going to Church, and living like I like to live, simple. But I’ll be back, Lord willing.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Hmm…so who’s the nutcase? ;^D
Seriously, Tom, may the Lord use your time away from technology to deepen and nurture your walk with Him. You have given a lot of yourself on this blog and I know we have all appreciated and benefitted from your wisdom. So, thank you! I will miss your input but understand your desire for living more simply for a time. May you be renewed and refreshed like a well-watered garden!
February 27th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Hi Tom!
I will indeed miss you, your wit and your wisdom. Hope to see you back after your ‘fast’.
May the Lord bless you and yours always!
May you live with a simple faith by expressing that faith by loving others!
Till next time………..
February 27th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Well, enjoy your time off. I think you’re doing the right thing. Much as I appreciate your blog, and the impact you are having, I can see why you might want to take a break from it. Sometimes around here it is still just as frenetic as it was in the city, and a lot of the time computer ownership seems more a part of the problem than the solution.
The Lord bless you, and we’ll see you when you get back.
February 28th, 2006 at 2:40 am
Tom,
Enjoy the time. To quote an old Motel 8 saying:
“Well Keep the Light on!”
Be Well.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:35 am
Tom,
No offense, but I wasn’t going to read your blog anyway. So there!
Seriously, a priest friend suggested that I take a little time before lent to consider otherwise good things (he specifically mentioned modern technology) that may distract from what is truly important; prayer, reflection, meditation - the interior life with our Lord. We also are giving up the computer. (I can’t give it up entirely as it’s how I earn my living - but I sure wish I could give it up.) We don’t watch it much as it is, but we’re also mothballing the TV. I’ve got a feeling that at the end of lent I aint going to want to unpack it. I sure hope you don’t get the same feelings about your computer.
We’ll see ya during Easter.
(I know it’s early but…)
Christ is risen!
February 28th, 2006 at 6:59 am
Tom,
I’ll miss my daily visit to your blog but will be waiting in anticipation to hear what God has wrought in your life during this special time with Him.
May your family be blessed as you seek Him during this season.
Cheri
February 28th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Tom,
Good for you! Everyone needs rest and reflection and time with our Lord. We’ll miss you, but know that we’ll be anxiously waiting for your return!
May the Lord bless you and your family,
Christine
February 28th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Emily,
Thanks, I get a feeling this is going to help me a lot.
Steven,
I sure am glad to have met you North Dakota folks here on the web. There’s a darn good chance we’ll meet someday and figure out all the answers to the world
James,
Thanks for understanding the need to get away from this computer for a bit. I plan on firing up the blog on Easter evening or so, so till then…
Scott,
Been drinking it for a few days now and it sure is some good stuff. Thanks!
One of my first things one of these evenings is to send you a letter and figure out how to get more of that coffee
Steve,
I hope your fast goes well and brings you ever closer to our Lord. Until Easter, take care.
Cheri,
I haven’t forgotten the offer for some comfrey stock. So be ready after Easter. Thanks!
Christine,
And I hope all goes well with you and yours down there.
God Bless you folks!