Lent invites us to relinquish certain comforts. Ideally, as we peel away the layers of comfort with which we surround ourselves — such as meat, alcohol, gossip, or television — we learn how to abide in Christ and gain insight from the stillness of Gethsemane, the sorrow of Golgotha, and the redemption of the cross.

For the past month, I struggled to decide what to “fast” from. Quiet contemplation bore rich insights for Christian monastics, so I turned to silence and tried to listen to God. But no sooner did I seek out a moment of quiet, than I heard the unmistakable ping of my inbox coaxing me to “Act now!” “Check out these deals!” “Hurry!” and “Buy, buy, buy, buy!” Regardless of the brand, these retail messages are constant, pervasive, and often persuasive.

And I’ll confess: Though I know the “stuff” promised by these brands is part of a hyper-consumptive din, the disruptions these messages bring aren’t entirely unwelcome. The promise of a bargain or the thought of a shiny new thing brings me inexplicable comfort during a stressful work week or interpersonal turmoil. It dulls the existential dread that has followed me since the start of the pandemic.

Which is how I settled on my Lenten practice: This year, I’m fasting from the noise of retail frenzy.

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