Lenten Writing Prompt #4
Write about packing your Alleluias away for Lent: write a letter to them as if to a friend across the miles. Write a musing about where they go while they are packed away - do they wait paitently for us in a room? An island? What they are doing while they are waiting? How do you feel without your Alleluias, do you miss them or does their temporary absence help you focus on the Lenten journey. This is meant to be a fun, fantastical thought-piece, so write about whatever inspires you about being Alleluia-less during Lent.
Alleluia-less
ReplyDeleteMy public exclamation, "Alleluia", stifled in Lent.
Daily heart, spirit, body fill up to the brim with life.
Over-tipping the chalice of joy must give vent,
A thrill of wonder, a verbal expression cuts air like a knife.
Does this damage the mood of contemplation?
Is this a hidden agenda or a truth to be told?
Am I untrue to the stolid nature of the season?
Our church-year rhythms serve God, be bold!
Alleluias breakout by their very nature.
Like a Lutheran raising hands in praise.
When Spirit summons response brings stature.
What other word conveys better exaltations lays?
Like snuck chocolate in one's Lenten diet,
Alleluia brings Creator's exhuberance out in holy joy.
Far be it from my ken to not celebrate God's fiat,
We are to stay close to Jesus, an outrageous boy.
Shall we limit the outbreaks that happen each day?
Lenten sunrises, rainbows, surprise smooches still come.
True to contemplation, we gently walk the Lenten way.
There's a marvelous end when the 40 days sum.
Worry not my anxious heart!
Stifle not fair spirit your dance.
Alleluias hidden from the start,
May surprise and enhance.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
16.2.13
Pondering my penitence, my alleluias are silent.
ReplyDeleteI reflect in silence, feeling my separation from God,
In exile, in the wilderness, I wait beyond Babylon.
Buried in the water of my baptism, I wait…
Wait for germination; hidden, silent, gravid;
Expectant, watchful, I anticipate transformation.
As Spirit hovers over the foaming waters of creation
Swirling the winds of change, of time,
I await, I await, I await the return of joyful alleluias.
RuthAnn;
Deletequiet, waiting, peaceful anticipation, you've captured it!
ronaldo
Voice message:
ReplyDeleteBeeeeeep
Hi, this is Larry, I can’t answer the phone right now but if you will leave your name, phone number and a quick message I’ll call you back… and if this is the Alleluias – no - lent is not over yet! We’re only four days into it for God’s sake! I mean, I miss you too, but you know the agreement, no alleluias for the season. Oh don’t get started with me about how you think we’re being selfish and leaving you out. We’re simply taking some time for self-examination – it’s different. I know, I know you can’t hardly stand it…I know that alleluia’s are expressive and fun and so ‘extravertish’. But it’s only for a time. I miss you too but we’ll get together for worship at sunrise on Easter Sunday morning down by the Lake and yup it up! It will be fun! Then Easter afternoon, after all the craziness, let’s you and I sit down on the couch in the living room like last year. We’ll have some coffee and peeps and a chocolate bunny and you can fill me in on all the alleluia’s I’ve missed. That was so fun – it really was great – I’m not just saying that. So start your list, I want to hear them all. I’ll hear you in … about 6 weeks.
Beeeeeeep
Smile, chuckle
DeleteMarlene
ahem, way too much fun!! oops jes got a call.....
Deleteronaldo
Dear Alleluias,
ReplyDeleteYou may not understand this now, but later it will become clear to you. You need to go away for about 40 days, give or take a day. This is not a one way ticket but it isn't exactly a round-trip ticket either. Think of it as one of those open-ended tickets. You will know when it's time to come home.
I will miss you tremendously. I'm not sure what is going to happen to me while you are gone, but I know that I will be safe. I have the feeling that I need to face some issues in my life that I have buried deep within - issues of broken trusts, failings, and things like that. As much as I don't want to examine these things, I know from experience that my step will be lighter and my countenance will be brighter when you return. You will notice a freshness about me and a contented peace in my life.
No one can do this examination of conscience and heart for me, but I don't do it alone either. There will others beside me, and on those days that I feel lazy and don't want to get out of bed, they will rouse me out of my slumber. And there will be days that I will poke and prod them to this blessed work of reflection.
Sincerely,
Joel Lohafer
Alleluia is such a sweety.
Deleteronaldo
No Alleluias For Lent?
ReplyDeleteThe first time they told me
we couldn't meet
for 40 days
I was in shock and
disbelief
I could not believe
they would do that
to us
I argued
I fussed
I refused to participate
Then I found
The Loophole
Look, I said,
Sundays don't count as Lent!
That's the Day Our Saviour rose
No one believes me
Even to this day
But, You and I know
So, we meet and greet
silently
each Sunday
in Lent
You and I
Alleluia!
fHs
Sara
Hey, don't look. Undercover liturgical agent Sara is making her move!
Deleteronaldo
Right and ... fun
ReplyDeleteLittle Alleluias Everywhere
ReplyDeleteAsh Wednesday’s solemn pace is suddenly interrupted
by little alleluias
Laying on the pews
Sneaking their wafers into the wine
Dancing in front of the pastor
Little Alleluias interrupt my Lenten discipline
With robot-voiced shouts of “I like to move it, move it!”
from downstairs
Little Alleluias come over to me
during the Lenten soup and salad dinner
And show me that they’ve learned how to wave
Again
And again
Beaming each time with a glow of ‘I did it!’ that I can’t ignore
Little Alleluias
Shout during prayer
Run in the Narthex
Giggle incessantly
And generally disrupt all my good Lenten intentions
Thanks be to God.
And thank God for those Little Alleluias! That's why God gave them to us...to keep it all in perspective. "Putting Alleuias away were made for 'man' not 'man' for putting away the Alleluias". Mark 2:29 Remember? Lovely piece
DeleteSH
Sneaky angels they be! We may not speak the outloud word but our hearts can't contain Creators actions.
Deleteronaldo
Dear Alleluias,
ReplyDeleteYou may be getting a little worried about this practice of locking alleluias away during Lent, but I say to you, RELAX. I’m not going to lock you in a closet or send you away. You don’t have to modify your dance to a dirge tempo.
Despite the reasoning I’ve heard, I can’t see why I would want to do such a thing. Aren’t we focusing on “compassion” this year for 40 days? How compassionate would it be to issue a gag order on you? Just what would the 22 angels staring at me from all around my bedroom think of that?
It’s true that on dreary, dripping day like this one, I tend to draw inward and gravitate to quieter, more pensive pursuits. And I’m not one to go around using you indiscriminately anyway. I am a Lutheran after all, however much a rebel I‘ve been the for the past 30 some Lutheran years about “the way Lutherans have always done it.” I’m more apt to whisper your name softly or with silent reverence accompanying smiles, a joyful quickening of my pulse, and joyful tears. It is true though, within the comfort of my friends and family, when we’re presented with a clear answer to a situation we’ve been praying about, I will lose my reticence to my spirit’s exuberant thankfulness.
The oil of gladness is not to be denied its flame. As it has led me safely through many a dark passage, it has set the jagged crystal walls ringing, and I cannot muffle your replies from my heart.
If I were to silence your shouts, songs and thoughts of adoration, whether audible or inaudible; clearly, the stones would explode themselves into a rousing choral barage carrying you. And my 22 angels would fly out of their stations to join in.
So rest easy and know we will always be together.
ALLELUIA!
All my Love,
Marlene
See, they jumped our of format, they were so anxious!
Deletehonesty springs forth. Spirit never dresses in tight garments. flowing, moving, ecstatically demonstrating, alleluia - solitude a great paradox
Deleteronaldo
Easter Countdown
ReplyDeleteIt is Lent, just now, my little friends
and for a little while
I'll tuck you in this cozy space,
replace you with a smile.
But only temporarily,
in case you wonder why.
In case you can't jump out
and say "A------a!"
(Just say "Hi!")
But on my personal bulletin board
Out in the busy hall.
I'm setting you free for all to see
One letter at a call.
I call it Easter Countdown
And answer with a bow
Whenever anyone asks of me
'What's going on here now?"
It won't be long and it sure helps
To know you're very near,
And Easter Morn we'll celebrate
For all the world to hear!
Clarene Aitken
3.3.13