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
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Any Questions?
What would you say to a teenager or young adult who was questioning their faith? Write a letter or piece to support their journey in a loving way.
1) Questions and honest doubts are the backbone of real faith. 2) Only boring people stop asking questions. 3) You are still tethered to God's grace and love - questions only ask for a little more line!
My hormones be raging way outta control! My faith seems to move away from reasonable. What shall I do? How can I escape religious jail? Need parole! Do I have to follow what Dad, Mom, sibs claim as feasible?
Word Made Flesh took off on a family trip. Jerusalem was a big city in the fellas’ mind. He figured discussion might help so to the temple, zip. In the world of adult questions, his answers he’d find.
Old rabbis, eyes smiling, ears listening for truth, This bright teenager brought fresh thoughts to meet. What’s a messiah? How should I behave, forsooth? No impediment did the ancient ones bring; this one they’d greet.
Desperate remains the discussion for relevance today. Active hormones welcome, hip-hop, blogosphere, tweet, Faith must find space in our cyber world for its say. Bring your cell phone. What’s your need? Have a seat.
My grandfather died without saying his usual “Goodbye.” I miss him so. Where’s God in the ‘midst of my fearful pain? My parents cry. They seem to fill the day with their sighs. Who can I ask? I need a welcoming touch that won’t disdain.
Kids at school don’t always treat me okay. Teachers help but riding the bus is tough. Dad, Mom says I need to be strong, make my way. Do I need to stand up for myself, call their bluff?
My friends say that the boy-girl thing is ours to do. I’m not sure just how to act or what’s most important. There’s this person I like, do I chill or pursue? My questions don’t seem to go away or stay distant.
Creator, why have you made me this full of life? Word Made Flesh, did you have pimples? Feel so lost? Spirit, you seem so cool, no strains or strife. God help me believe. Help me pay the growing cost.
Whatever the youngster said that sounded like doubt, I would say something like, "Glad you mentioned that to me. What else can you tell me about that thought?" And then listen, listen, listen. Whenever it will help the conversation continue I would reassure young person that they are asking good questions and expressing solid, valid doubts. I would try to behave it ways that reflect my belief that all thinking people have similar questions and doubts, and that is how we each figure out what we actually believe. I would share one specific thing at some point: "One of the things I love most about our faith and especially about being Lutheran, is that I have been encouraged to keep thinking and build my faith at the same time.
Your questions are so important! Answers may seem slow to come. Trust the new you is near with a fresh view of God helping you weave the good of what you've known with the best yet to come.
He taught young men and women who were studying to become pastors. He had been a professor for many years. His students had all come because people admired their faith. Some noticed they had a strength in their relationship with God So they encouraged each of them to study for the ministry. Those students knew they had the support of others. Most believed they were called by God and they were eager to become even stronger in the ways of the Lord.
He would teach them many important skills. He would give them knowledge that they would use for years. What they didn’t expect was his weakness. He would pray in front of them asking God to calm his doubts and allay his fears. He was clear with them that even his knowledge and his wisdom left questions that he wrestled with. He was also certain that his questions were not the end of his faith, his questions were the edge where he wrestled with God and received the blessing as the son rose.
Thank God for Doubting Thomas! He relieves my feeling of guilt when I have my own doubts.
Oh yes, I have doubts from time to time. I can tell you this, when you were so ill and we waited through the night, I didn't have any doubts. I just prayed. And when your Dad was under fire on the air strip in Viet Nam and the bullets whizzed toward him straight for his head, he didn't have any doubts either. He just prayed.
When people in distress say, "Oh God!", they don't have any doubts, only desperate need. Doubt is an intellectual thing.
Faith comes from the gut.
Don't worry.
When faith is needed it will be there. Only just accept it when it is.
I would say three things:
ReplyDelete1) Questions and honest doubts are the backbone of real faith.
2) Only boring people stop asking questions.
3) You are still tethered to God's grace and love - questions only ask
for a little more line!
Joel Lohafer
yep!
Deleteronaldo
I like that. Thank you.
DeleteSylvia.
I love #3! Thanks!
DeleteHere’s My Questions, God
ReplyDeleteMy hormones be raging way outta control!
My faith seems to move away from reasonable.
What shall I do? How can I escape religious jail? Need parole!
Do I have to follow what Dad, Mom, sibs claim as feasible?
Word Made Flesh took off on a family trip.
Jerusalem was a big city in the fellas’ mind.
He figured discussion might help so to the temple, zip.
In the world of adult questions, his answers he’d find.
Old rabbis, eyes smiling, ears listening for truth,
This bright teenager brought fresh thoughts to meet.
What’s a messiah? How should I behave, forsooth?
No impediment did the ancient ones bring; this one they’d greet.
Desperate remains the discussion for relevance today.
Active hormones welcome, hip-hop, blogosphere, tweet,
Faith must find space in our cyber world for its say.
Bring your cell phone. What’s your need? Have a seat.
My grandfather died without saying his usual “Goodbye.”
I miss him so. Where’s God in the ‘midst of my fearful pain?
My parents cry. They seem to fill the day with their sighs.
Who can I ask? I need a welcoming touch that won’t disdain.
Kids at school don’t always treat me okay.
Teachers help but riding the bus is tough.
Dad, Mom says I need to be strong, make my way.
Do I need to stand up for myself, call their bluff?
My friends say that the boy-girl thing is ours to do.
I’m not sure just how to act or what’s most important.
There’s this person I like, do I chill or pursue?
My questions don’t seem to go away or stay distant.
Creator, why have you made me this full of life?
Word Made Flesh, did you have pimples? Feel so lost?
Spirit, you seem so cool, no strains or strife.
God help me believe. Help me pay the growing cost.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
6 March 2013
Whatever the youngster said that sounded like doubt, I would say something like, "Glad you mentioned that to me. What else can you tell me about that thought?" And then listen, listen, listen. Whenever it will help the conversation continue I would reassure young person that they are asking good questions and expressing solid, valid doubts. I would try to behave it ways that reflect my belief that all thinking people have similar questions and doubts, and that is how we each figure out what we actually believe. I would share one specific thing at some point: "One of the things I love most about our faith and especially about being Lutheran, is that I have been encouraged to keep thinking and build my faith at the same time.
ReplyDeletelisten actively not reactively. well stated.
Deleteronaldo
Your questions are so important! Answers may seem slow to come. Trust the new you is near with a fresh view of God helping you weave the good of what you've known with the best yet to come.
ReplyDeleteHey Jerry;
Deletesage advice. thanks.
ronaldo
Where He Wrestled
ReplyDeleteHe taught young men and women
who were studying to become pastors.
He had been a professor for many years.
His students had all come
because people admired their faith.
Some noticed they had a strength
in their relationship with God
So they encouraged each of them
to study for the ministry.
Those students knew they had the support of others.
Most believed they were called by God
and they were eager to become even stronger
in the ways of the Lord.
He would teach them many important skills.
He would give them knowledge
that they would use for years.
What they didn’t expect was his weakness.
He would pray in front of them
asking God to calm his doubts
and allay his fears.
He was clear with them
that even his knowledge
and his wisdom
left questions that he wrestled with.
He was also certain
that his questions
were not the end of his faith,
his questions were the edge
where he wrestled with God
and received the blessing
as the son rose.
our real teachers bring themselves in the lesson. truth requires such honesty. learning from them, life changing. thanks.
Deleteronaldo
such teachers get it done. so many faces come to mind. thanks
ReplyDeleteOh! My child!
ReplyDeleteThank God for Doubting Thomas! He relieves my feeling of guilt when I have my own doubts.
Oh yes, I have doubts from time to time. I can tell you this, when you were so ill and we waited through the night, I didn't have any doubts. I just prayed. And when your Dad was under fire on the air strip in Viet Nam and the bullets whizzed toward him straight for his head, he didn't have any doubts either. He just prayed.
When people in distress say, "Oh God!", they don't have any doubts, only desperate need. Doubt is an intellectual thing.
Faith comes from the gut.
Don't worry.
When faith is needed it will be there. Only just accept it when it is.
Love, Mom
Clarene Aitken
6 March 2013
What beautiful and inspiring words. Thank you Clarene!
Deleteclear affirmation, real.
Deleteronaldo