Lenten Writing Project Reboot 2020! Writers' Reflections in the Wilderness of Lent
Words of Faith
Spirit to Spirit Writing Project
The word Lentcomes from an old English word meaning lengthening of days. In Christianity, it refers to the time before Easter, traditionally observed through repentance and learning. It's a season to be intentional about changing and growing. Some people give up items to create space and time for new life and habits to grow. Instead of giving something up, I invite you to try to commit to answering these writing prompts each of the 40 days of Lent. The discipline it takes to set aside time each day to reflect and write about God and your relationship with spirituality is a journey that you will emerge from with a renewed spirit. Every writer has their own special voice to add to this project, whether poetry, prose, essay, thoughts, lists, or through comments, prayer, and encouragement.
How do I participate? Each day, a writing prompt will be posted. A prompt is a question or statement that is meant to inspire your thoughts in whatever genre you feel moved to write. Post your reflections as a comment under each day's prompt (for further instructions, see 'How To Post' on the right side of the page). It is up to you if you write, read, or pray along with us each of the 40 days of Lent or just drop in from time to time when the spirit moves you to participate. Writing regularly is a discipline that many writers struggle with and this is a way to involve that discipline as a Lenten practice. Through writing and leaving encouraging words for others in this project, we become a supportive spiritual writing community
Monday, February 18, 2013
Enough
Lenten Writing Prompt #5
Write about a time when you were worried about having "enough". Enough love, enough resources, time, etc. How did you resolve it, if you were able to?
Calm down my soul, attend. Ah, body, what truly your need? Spirit has Creator to you wend? Heart, let grace, mercy, love feed.
Distraction, Lent lessens. Grumbling ego finds surcease. Time 'lows fullness' lessons. A morsel enjoyed brings release.
Possessive possessions piled 'round. Creator denies not imaginations' fluff. Word Become Flesh lillies found. Spirit promises ever 'twill be enough.
Young boys' lunch, two loaves, five fish, Blessed into baskets to feed even more. Have we found staples for our daily dish? God asks partnership, meets need at the door.
Financial peace comes from basic trust. Choices made, result in plans laid. Consulting God first, a must. Letting love shine as bills paid.
Marketplace culture too often fear-based, Shouts loudly for purchases one must make. Lenten filter shoutings' decibels erased. Wholeness will every true need slake.
Come into this moment, 'tis Creators' gift. Breath deeply, allow lungs fullness reach. Abundance renewed let fear, doubt drift. Our hope, the gospel we preach.
23 shirts, 8 pair of pants 13 pair of shoes (if you count the ones that don’t fit any more and the boots and the teva’s and the swim fins and the garden boots and the snow boots and the cross country kit boot and the downhill ski boots) 28 pair of socks (at last count and that was a while ago), 12 sweaters 7 jackets, 3 coats (yes there is a difference) 3 belts, 3 suits, and one bath robe Enough? … Oh no!
Four hammers, 11 kinds of nails (125 each of some of them) 11 or 12 kinds of screws not to mention the can full of odd screws and bolts and nuts two power drills, a scroll saw a plainer ,a lathe, 9 cutting tools, 15 drill bits a router, 18 router bits, a hand plain, a dust collector 3 hand saws, 68 pieces of sand paper, 2 saw horses, a work table 3 t squares, a shop vac, 9 screw drivers (4 Philips and 3 straight) a skill saw, a miter saw, a grinder Enough? ….. Not yet!
28 dinner plate (three plus different sets) 18 salad plates, 19 cups, 22 glasses (glass and plastic) 13 mixing bowls, 8 serving platters, 5 pots, 7 pans, 27 pieces of silverware (9 forks, 10 spoons and 8 knives) 21 cloth napkins, a mixer, a blender, a microwave a toaster oven, a waffle maker, a yogurt maker coconut oil, olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil canola oil, grape seed oil, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar cider vinegar, Champaign vinegar, peach vinegar balsamic vinegar, and don’t get me started on spices Enough? …. No, not hardly!
Eight friends around a table the best times of my life catching up, and sharing hopes and dreams and pains and laughter and seeing joy in each other’s eyes. In that moment, in those moments there is wonder and beauty and we all breathe deep because there is enough. Enough.
Is there enough food? I see bloated bellies of children in Sudan and South Chicago. I see the old man standing at my intersection with a sign. I see Tent City and the blue plastic homeless shelters.
Is there enough time? I hear the phone reminding me of the IRS date on my calendar. I hear the alarm clock set for early lab tests at the clinic. I hear a toddler voice changing to baritone in what seems like a moment.
Is there enough clean water? I smell the toxic waste in that stream that used to run clear. I smell the pollution of the mill, and the car exhaust. I smell smoke from a thousand poisonous sources.
Is there enough love? I hold the battered child in my arms and wipe her tears. I hold the elderly grandmother and promise it’s going to be OK. I hold out my hand, and trust God’s promises:
”Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts;
see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
Enough
ReplyDeleteCalm down my soul, attend.
Ah, body, what truly your need?
Spirit has Creator to you wend?
Heart, let grace, mercy, love feed.
Distraction, Lent lessens.
Grumbling ego finds surcease.
Time 'lows fullness' lessons.
A morsel enjoyed brings release.
Possessive possessions piled 'round.
Creator denies not imaginations' fluff.
Word Become Flesh lillies found.
Spirit promises ever 'twill be enough.
Young boys' lunch, two loaves, five fish,
Blessed into baskets to feed even more.
Have we found staples for our daily dish?
God asks partnership, meets need at the door.
Financial peace comes from basic trust.
Choices made, result in plans laid.
Consulting God first, a must.
Letting love shine as bills paid.
Marketplace culture too often fear-based,
Shouts loudly for purchases one must make.
Lenten filter shoutings' decibels erased.
Wholeness will every true need slake.
Come into this moment, 'tis Creators' gift.
Breath deeply, allow lungs fullness reach.
Abundance renewed let fear, doubt drift.
Our hope, the gospel we preach.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
18.2.13
Enough
ReplyDeleteYes, I've had those days of
missed deadlines
missed payments
missed hugs and
loneliness
But, after bargaining with God,
and arguing with myself;
and doing some praying,
I finally dug down deep and
confessed my part in all of it
I realized that
I've always have enough
just enough
of whatever I need
not always what I want
but, of what I need
If only I put my trust in God;
steward the resources God gives to me;
and then share what I have
I will always have
just enough
(and probably more)
fHs
Sara
Refreshingly honest.
DeleteSpiritually real.
ronaldo
Enough
ReplyDelete23 shirts, 8 pair of pants
13 pair of shoes (if you count the ones that don’t fit any more
and the boots and the teva’s and the swim fins and the garden boots
and the snow boots and the cross country kit boot and the downhill ski boots)
28 pair of socks (at last count and that was a while ago), 12 sweaters
7 jackets, 3 coats (yes there is a difference)
3 belts, 3 suits, and one bath robe
Enough? … Oh no!
Four hammers, 11 kinds of nails (125 each of some of them)
11 or 12 kinds of screws
not to mention the can full of odd screws and bolts and nuts
two power drills, a scroll saw
a plainer ,a lathe, 9 cutting tools, 15 drill bits
a router, 18 router bits, a hand plain, a dust collector
3 hand saws, 68 pieces of sand paper, 2 saw horses, a work table
3 t squares, a shop vac, 9 screw drivers (4 Philips and 3 straight)
a skill saw, a miter saw, a grinder
Enough? ….. Not yet!
28 dinner plate (three plus different sets)
18 salad plates, 19 cups, 22 glasses (glass and plastic)
13 mixing bowls, 8 serving platters, 5 pots, 7 pans,
27 pieces of silverware (9 forks, 10 spoons and 8 knives)
21 cloth napkins, a mixer, a blender, a microwave
a toaster oven, a waffle maker, a yogurt maker
coconut oil, olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil
canola oil, grape seed oil, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar
cider vinegar, Champaign vinegar, peach vinegar
balsamic vinegar, and don’t get me started on spices
Enough? …. No, not hardly!
Eight friends around a table
the best times of my life
catching up, and sharing hopes
and dreams and pains and laughter
and seeing joy in each other’s eyes.
In that moment, in those moments
there is wonder and beauty
and we all breathe deep
because there is
enough.
Enough.
Larry;
Deleteyou've captured the stuff vs. relationships.
God wants to build relationships despite stuff.
ronaldo
Is there enough food?
ReplyDeleteI see bloated bellies of children
in Sudan and South Chicago.
I see the old man standing
at my intersection with a sign.
I see Tent City and the
blue plastic homeless shelters.
Is there enough time?
I hear the phone reminding me
of the IRS date on my calendar.
I hear the alarm clock set
for early lab tests at the clinic.
I hear a toddler voice changing to baritone
in what seems like a moment.
Is there enough clean water?
I smell the toxic waste in that stream
that used to run clear.
I smell the pollution of the mill,
and the car exhaust.
I smell smoke
from a thousand poisonous sources.
Is there enough love?
I hold the battered child in my arms
and wipe her tears.
I hold the elderly grandmother
and promise it’s going to be OK.
I hold out my hand,
and trust God’s promises:
”Bring the full tithe into the storehouse,
so that there may be food in my house,
and thus put me to the test,
says the LORD of hosts;
see if I will not open the windows of heaven
for you
and pour down for you
an overflowing blessing.”
Malachi 3:10 -