Mills’s brief essay on the subject, available on the First Things website, tells us about two practical benefits of the practice.
Personally, I have found that giving something important up for Lent also has spiritual benefits, as countless people have observed over the years.
No one is too good or too refined to benefit from this brief annual reordering of priorities, Mills notes:
Even bookish types are addicted to the world’s pleasures, and perhaps more deeply so because we believe our tastes intellectual and refined. So just give up something. Almost anything will do, because once you give it up, you’ll want it. Start small, but start.
I strongly recommend that any Christians among our readership give it a try. As Dr. Mills notes, you will undoubtedly benefit in multiple ways.
Can you be addicted to God?
One of the hardest things I wrestle with is that the disciples dropped EVERYTHING and followed Christ. I mean like, quit their jobs without notice. I know everyone aspires to that type of devotion, but frankly, I’m too weak.
And perhaps it is the devil in me that makes me wonder where you can draw the line between acceptable worldliness and unacceptable worldliness. Logically, if I shouldn’t concern myself with worldly things, why even have a job? And if I then focus on discernment, isn’t that saying even God is good in moderation?
I don’t know. But I did try to give up the word “awesome” for Lent.