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
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Gifted...
What spiritual gift do you have? What spiritual gift do you wish you had? What would you do with either one if you knew that you could 'move mountains' with it? (sorry this prompt was late today!)
I had big dreams as a kid. I wanted to be a shoe salesman! I knew two men who owed shoe stores and I loved trying on new shoes! Why not!
I thought about being President but that was just crazy dream for a shy skinny kid from the prairie. A crazy dream!
I thought I could be a mail carrier or ‘mail man’ as we called them then. I loved to walk and to be outside. Could happen!
But in Jr. High, what I really wanted to do with my life… the thing that I thought I was good at and loved doing … was encouraging people. Still at it!
Thank you for always encourging and guiding our youth in the confirmation program. Full circle, my children and now, my grandchildren have benefited from your gentle, humorous wisdom!
"Faithful Steward of Creation" doesn't receive mention in the Bible as one of the spirtual gifts, and yet, from my earliest recollections, I KNEW, without a doubt, that God had infused me with a precious gift of affinity with nature and its creatures, coupled with the desire to nuture and protect his precious, magnificent, intricate creation. Hence, my nickname, "Mrs. Noah", as our home often reminds one of a scene from the belly of the ark.
Healing is the gift I yearn to possess;healing of body, mind and spirit for humans and animals alike. (Wouldn't that save me thousands in vet bills?) To be used of God to miraculously restore health to those afflicted with disease, with injury, with a hopeless future, and to turn the grief of their families into unbridled joy would be the most intense sort of exhilaration! My admiration and gratefulness go out to the medical people who make such miracles happen among us every day.
My wanderings through this world of woe bring me here. Folk I meet just add to the wonder seldom bring fear. At special moments in this day of mine, I shine my shoes. When the party is scheduled, I’ll dance a bit, drink the booze.
Most of the time though, I try to show up with simple cheer. Doesn’t much matter who I’m with, they are my human peer. Like a chameleon into the context of the day I try to fit. My particular contribution, I hope will allow the weary to sit.
Several decades back my dear mother-in-law, a prophetess true. Gazed upon this son-in-law with her Swedish eyes of blue. “You’re an old shoe. A person without pretense or undo pride.” Ever since I’ve been able to note the importance of truth by my side.
I get to make observations, help out situations, make God’s care known. Folks of all backgrounds, most particularly the street-wise, seeds I’ve sown, Find me not a problem but a fellow traveler, ready to locate a bed for the night. Together we address the need for companionship, how to prevent the fight.
Perhaps my epitaph needs emendation to capture the truth of me. “He almost made to the age of six, an old shoe.” Would be what you’d see. My wear-ability seems proven time and again as each day comes to a close. I look back upon the folks I’ve traveled with, some smelled, others like a rose.
Among the many types of footwear that occupy my closet, take up space, There’s special honor paid to the well-worn sets, with miles yet to face. Having so many kinds of shoes belies my white, male, rich place in the world. In some communities I’d have a peso store stocked well as the day unfurl’d.
St. Paul reflected on the importance of context when to each one he said, Paraphrasing: “To the rich, I’m rich; to the poor, poor; to the dead, dead.” Our Risen Lord asks us to bring a radical message from the Keeper of All. Be servants worthy of your service, introduce the gospel, ‘tis our call.
Old shoes arise, bring your gentle tread into the pathways of your day. Make your pace of travel fit the companions you are with, don’t stray. Spirit, do Your amazing thing, don’t let our simple shoes wear out too thin. Keep us ready to respond, Your love needs sharing in this world we’re in.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div. 11 March 2013
As A Boy
ReplyDeleteI had big dreams as a kid.
I wanted to be a shoe salesman!
I knew two men who owed shoe stores
and I loved trying on new shoes!
Why not!
I thought about being President
but that was just crazy dream
for a shy skinny kid
from the prairie.
A crazy dream!
I thought I could be a mail carrier
or ‘mail man’ as we called them then.
I loved to walk
and to be outside.
Could happen!
But in Jr. High, what I really wanted to do with my life…
the thing that I thought I was good at
and loved doing …
was encouraging people.
Still at it!
And good at it!
DeleteMarlene
Encourager par excellence! side effect: positive energy flows.
Deleteronaldo
Thank you for always encourging and guiding our youth in the confirmation program. Full circle, my children and now, my grandchildren have benefited from your gentle, humorous wisdom!
ReplyDelete"Faithful Steward of Creation" doesn't receive mention in the Bible as one of the spirtual gifts, and yet, from my earliest recollections, I KNEW, without a doubt, that God had infused me with a precious gift of affinity with nature and its creatures, coupled with the desire to nuture and protect his precious, magnificent, intricate creation. Hence, my nickname, "Mrs. Noah", as our home often reminds one of a scene from the belly of the ark.
ReplyDeleteHealing is the gift I yearn to possess;healing of body, mind and spirit for humans and animals alike. (Wouldn't that save me thousands in vet bills?) To be used of God to miraculously restore health to those afflicted with disease, with injury, with a hopeless future, and to turn the grief of their families into unbridled joy would be the most intense sort of exhilaration! My admiration and gratefulness go out to the medical people who make such miracles happen among us every day.
Woman power! well put indeed.
Deleteronaldo
I love that you knew your gift of Faithful Steward of Creation from your earliest recollection. That kind of knowledge is a gift in itself!
ReplyDeleteOld Shoe-ness
ReplyDeleteMy wanderings through this world of woe bring me here.
Folk I meet just add to the wonder seldom bring fear.
At special moments in this day of mine, I shine my shoes.
When the party is scheduled, I’ll dance a bit, drink the booze.
Most of the time though, I try to show up with simple cheer.
Doesn’t much matter who I’m with, they are my human peer.
Like a chameleon into the context of the day I try to fit.
My particular contribution, I hope will allow the weary to sit.
Several decades back my dear mother-in-law, a prophetess true.
Gazed upon this son-in-law with her Swedish eyes of blue.
“You’re an old shoe. A person without pretense or undo pride.”
Ever since I’ve been able to note the importance of truth by my side.
I get to make observations, help out situations, make God’s care known.
Folks of all backgrounds, most particularly the street-wise, seeds I’ve sown,
Find me not a problem but a fellow traveler, ready to locate a bed for the night.
Together we address the need for companionship, how to prevent the fight.
Perhaps my epitaph needs emendation to capture the truth of me.
“He almost made to the age of six, an old shoe.” Would be what you’d see.
My wear-ability seems proven time and again as each day comes to a close.
I look back upon the folks I’ve traveled with, some smelled, others like a rose.
Among the many types of footwear that occupy my closet, take up space,
There’s special honor paid to the well-worn sets, with miles yet to face.
Having so many kinds of shoes belies my white, male, rich place in the world.
In some communities I’d have a peso store stocked well as the day unfurl’d.
St. Paul reflected on the importance of context when to each one he said,
Paraphrasing: “To the rich, I’m rich; to the poor, poor; to the dead, dead.”
Our Risen Lord asks us to bring a radical message from the Keeper of All.
Be servants worthy of your service, introduce the gospel, ‘tis our call.
Old shoes arise, bring your gentle tread into the pathways of your day.
Make your pace of travel fit the companions you are with, don’t stray.
Spirit, do Your amazing thing, don’t let our simple shoes wear out too thin.
Keep us ready to respond, Your love needs sharing in this world we’re in.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
11 March 2013