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 25, 2013
Temptation in Perspective
Lenten Writing Prompt #11
Write about the Bible story of Jesus' temtation in the wilderness from one character's perspective: the temptor, Jesus, a passing animal, God, etc. etc. Be as creative as you want.
Sand, sparse vegetation, water a distant dream, Creator kept this isolated place, absolute abundance Workshop of prophets, sanctuary for solitudes’ scheme, Souls treading upon the wind swept scene looked askance.
Spirit had escaped the Jordan with Word Made Flesh. This budding Jesus knew a bit, not yet elevated sat dumb. Water drying on his brow, eyes bright, hands enmeshed, Rumbling voice proclaimed ‘Sonship’, now into the desert he’d come.
Thankfully many hours of internal sanctuary Jesus had logged. Being surprised by God not unusual or unexpected in his day, Cousin John’s reluctant baptism God’s Spirit had unclogged, Totally alone, resting seated on a rock, what’s the next play?
Day turned to chilly night, even sound seemed sparse Strong, young body, found a spot to hunker through the night. A week passed, travel not seeming necessary, though conditions harsh. Water dripped in a cleft of rock, a few drops eased his fright.
Dozing into dream, a soft, resilient voice could be heard. “Is thy stomach light, boy, would a bit of bread help?” Within the dream, he felt the growl of hunger at this word. “Surely you can solve the problem; you’re God’s own whelp.”
Spirit occupied a corner of his mind, responded clear, “Jesus, take note of the reverence, the simple action sought. This is not one for whom you need quaver or fear.” Cracked lips, tongue licked, opened, “God’s convenience can’t be bought.”
Another week, no word or challenge came, Sunrise found a vision from the temple roof “Cast yourself down, God has promised to claim.” “Don’t let arrogance, pretense tempt God’s truth.”
Wilderness accented the vision of the kingdoms of the world. “You may have them all, just bow down, touch your knee.” “Be gone Deceiver, Creator and Spirit have power unfurled. “I shall serve Them alone for the universe to see!”
Our Lord met His temptations showing us the way. We daily chose to follow where our God leads our steps. Be alert to the signs of warning they are part of the day. Faith gains in strength as we flex our grace-filled reps.
He’s gonna do what? Turn us in bread? .....Can he do that? I don’t think so. .....Not me! Not me either! I’ve been a stone for … well … thousands of years. My father was a stone, my mother was a stone we’ve always only been stones. These little stones all around me – you know where they came from. .....Now he flies up here and says he can just change us into .....loaves of breads. Well I never! Don’t we get a say? .....That’s right. Like I would want to be a hunk of bread? Here .....today spoiled tomorrow – or worse – eaten! Yuk! Well …. let them be – they’ll be gone soon enough. .....Do you think so? How do you know? I’m not for certain but they don’t seem to last that long. .....People? Yeah. .....Really? Yeah I saw a couple of them on a hike. One of them could barely walk and he said he was only about 40 years old, ‘one foot in the grave’ they said. .....The blink of an eye really! It’s really sad. .....Forty Years … Can’t say that I’ve done much in the last forty .....years… Still… who wants to be eaten? Yuk!!!
(A little Lenten humor. Try it with a British accent – I think it sounds better – the Brits can play stones so well. – this is maybe where the British rock invasion came from – but I digress badly)
So .... hungry
ReplyDeleteSo .... tired
So .... lonely
All I want is a hot shower, a warm bed and someone to visit with
Joel Lohafer
simply true!
Deleteronaldo
Wilderness
ReplyDeleteSand, sparse vegetation, water a distant dream,
Creator kept this isolated place, absolute abundance
Workshop of prophets, sanctuary for solitudes’ scheme,
Souls treading upon the wind swept scene looked askance.
Spirit had escaped the Jordan with Word Made Flesh.
This budding Jesus knew a bit, not yet elevated sat dumb.
Water drying on his brow, eyes bright, hands enmeshed,
Rumbling voice proclaimed ‘Sonship’, now into the desert he’d come.
Thankfully many hours of internal sanctuary Jesus had logged.
Being surprised by God not unusual or unexpected in his day,
Cousin John’s reluctant baptism God’s Spirit had unclogged,
Totally alone, resting seated on a rock, what’s the next play?
Day turned to chilly night, even sound seemed sparse
Strong, young body, found a spot to hunker through the night.
A week passed, travel not seeming necessary, though conditions harsh.
Water dripped in a cleft of rock, a few drops eased his fright.
Dozing into dream, a soft, resilient voice could be heard.
“Is thy stomach light, boy, would a bit of bread help?”
Within the dream, he felt the growl of hunger at this word.
“Surely you can solve the problem; you’re God’s own whelp.”
Spirit occupied a corner of his mind, responded clear,
“Jesus, take note of the reverence, the simple action sought.
This is not one for whom you need quaver or fear.”
Cracked lips, tongue licked, opened, “God’s convenience can’t be bought.”
Another week, no word or challenge came,
Sunrise found a vision from the temple roof
“Cast yourself down, God has promised to claim.”
“Don’t let arrogance, pretense tempt God’s truth.”
Wilderness accented the vision of the kingdoms of the world.
“You may have them all, just bow down, touch your knee.”
“Be gone Deceiver, Creator and Spirit have power unfurled.
“I shall serve Them alone for the universe to see!”
Our Lord met His temptations showing us the way.
We daily chose to follow where our God leads our steps.
Be alert to the signs of warning they are part of the day.
Faith gains in strength as we flex our grace-filled reps.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
25.2.13
The Stones at Jesus Temptation
ReplyDeleteHe’s gonna do what? Turn us in bread?
.....Can he do that?
I don’t think so.
.....Not me!
Not me either! I’ve been a stone for … well … thousands of years. My father was a stone, my mother was a stone we’ve always only been stones. These little stones all around me – you know where they came from.
.....Now he flies up here and says he can just change us into .....loaves of breads. Well I never!
Don’t we get a say?
.....That’s right. Like I would want to be a hunk of bread? Here .....today spoiled tomorrow – or worse – eaten! Yuk!
Well …. let them be – they’ll be gone soon enough.
.....Do you think so? How do you know?
I’m not for certain but they don’t seem to last that long.
.....People?
Yeah.
.....Really?
Yeah I saw a couple of them on a hike. One of them could barely walk and he said he was only about 40 years old, ‘one foot in the grave’ they said.
.....The blink of an eye really!
It’s really sad.
.....Forty Years … Can’t say that I’ve done much in the last forty .....years…
Still… who wants to be eaten? Yuk!!!
(A little Lenten humor. Try it with a British accent – I think it sounds better – the Brits can play stones so well. – this is maybe where the British rock invasion came from – but I digress badly)