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
Friday, March 29, 2013
Good Friday
What are your reflections on Good Friday and how do you observe it? You can write about what your reflections are on what happened on that day long ago or you can write about your personal experiences in observing it in your lifetime.
Continuing my noir theme from yesterday- Phrases like, "I knew it was going to end like this", "That's what happens", "We had such high hopes" come to mind. It was a meteoric rise-cleansing the temple, raising Lazarus, Palm Sunday. People had lots of hope. Just another revolutionary that got what they all get. For most people what they saw fit the mold too well, so their disappointment was predictable. I can’t imagine the disciple’s own internal turmoil. Were the crowd, the officials the soldiers all correct? Had everything meant nothing? One phrase used is that “they thought deeply”. I’ll bet they did. Their life was now like a broken pot. They didn’t want to make more mistakes, but didn’t know what else to do. Maybe have a little something to eat and sit together, they had done lots of that. And wait.
Stench of garbage fills the air, crucifixion Satan’s worst. Limp bodies slump ‘gainst nails, cords, bake in the noon-tide sun. Rasping words from liquid filling lungs, each phrase a burst; Idle on-lookers; bewildered disciples; legionnaires having no fun.
Death honors no living thing. This moment changes the game. Word Become Flesh born as angels sing. Now ends mortality, extinguishes life’s flame.
Truth comes to us in many layers, levels profound. Creator knows life’s price; Spirit enervates each cell. Adversary smiles; Anticipates final victory, love to confound; Word Become Flesh proclaims his last, sounds this rounds bell.
Sitting hidden in the shadow of my hearts’ pain, Quiet breaths cycle forth, panicky thoughts pour forth. Will my Lord truly come alive, touch my brow again? On this day most aggrieved, the dying moments course.
Rush not on, seeking pilgrim, at these crosses pause. Let the truth soak into the very fiber of your being. From creations’ initial burst, this day life’s true cause, Our Triune God holds all in love, grace beyond seeing.
Can life be full if we blanch from its emptying? Can force, power, egoic strife match selfless loss? Will anything in this day carry away sin’s destroying? Find we hope in the transient moment, life’s surface gloss?
Each morn begins at the cross-road, Hells’ gut rock the base. Plant feet solid, stand tall, Creator’s love undergirds the whole. Walk this day in the knowledge of meeting Savior face to face. At Golgotha the battle was won, Sin’s death-price the toll.
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13 "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
I feel immensely loved by God tonight and every Good Friday. It is a warm embrace that fills me with peace and assurance. I do not understand it but I welcome it with all my heart. It reminds me of Salvador Dalí's painting "Crucifixion" - love kept Jesus on the cross.
Of all of the imagery of the story of the crucifixion, the one from Matthew 27:51 stands out in my mind. “And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake and the rocks rent...."
Now the veil was hanging in the doorway of the Holy Place and it was "a most elaborately woven fabric of seventy two twisted plaits of twenty four threads each, and it was sixty feet long and thirty feet wide." *
This was not just a gauzy curtain blowing in the breeze. This was a deterrent, designed to keep unauthorized people out! But God rent it from top to bottom at Jesus' death and removed the separation of God from his people. How can we ever doubt his love for us just as we are?
Continuing my noir theme from yesterday- Phrases like, "I knew it was going to end like this", "That's what happens", "We had such high hopes" come to mind. It was a meteoric rise-cleansing the temple, raising Lazarus, Palm Sunday. People had lots of hope. Just another revolutionary that got what they all get. For most people what they saw fit the mold too well, so their disappointment was predictable. I can’t imagine the disciple’s own internal turmoil. Were the crowd, the officials the soldiers all correct? Had everything meant nothing? One phrase used is that “they thought deeply”. I’ll bet they did. Their life was now like a broken pot. They didn’t want to make more mistakes, but didn’t know what else to do. Maybe have a little something to eat and sit together, they had done lots of that. And wait.
ReplyDelete'tis backstory for your larger piece. more please!
Deleteronaldo
Forgot yo add my name Doug
DeleteThanks ronaldo. I appreciate your responses. Doug
DeleteGolgotha
ReplyDeleteStench of garbage fills the air, crucifixion Satan’s worst.
Limp bodies slump ‘gainst nails, cords, bake in the noon-tide sun.
Rasping words from liquid filling lungs, each phrase a burst;
Idle on-lookers; bewildered disciples; legionnaires having no fun.
Death honors no living thing.
This moment changes the game.
Word Become Flesh born as angels sing.
Now ends mortality, extinguishes life’s flame.
Truth comes to us in many layers, levels profound.
Creator knows life’s price; Spirit enervates each cell.
Adversary smiles; Anticipates final victory, love to confound;
Word Become Flesh proclaims his last, sounds this rounds bell.
Sitting hidden in the shadow of my hearts’ pain,
Quiet breaths cycle forth, panicky thoughts pour forth.
Will my Lord truly come alive, touch my brow again?
On this day most aggrieved, the dying moments course.
Rush not on, seeking pilgrim, at these crosses pause.
Let the truth soak into the very fiber of your being.
From creations’ initial burst, this day life’s true cause,
Our Triune God holds all in love, grace beyond seeing.
Can life be full if we blanch from its emptying?
Can force, power, egoic strife match selfless loss?
Will anything in this day carry away sin’s destroying?
Find we hope in the transient moment, life’s surface gloss?
Each morn begins at the cross-road, Hells’ gut rock the base.
Plant feet solid, stand tall, Creator’s love undergirds the whole.
Walk this day in the knowledge of meeting Savior face to face.
At Golgotha the battle was won, Sin’s death-price the toll.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
29.3.13
I have two scriptures and one experience.
ReplyDelete"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
I feel immensely loved by God tonight and every Good Friday. It is a warm embrace that fills me with peace and assurance. I do not understand it but I welcome it with all my heart. It reminds me of Salvador Dalí's painting "Crucifixion" - love kept Jesus on the cross.
Joel Lohafer
resting in the paradox: depth of loss - height of joy.
Deleteronaldo
The Veil
ReplyDeleteOf all of the imagery of the story of the crucifixion, the one from Matthew 27:51 stands out in my mind.
“And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake and the rocks rent...."
Now the veil was hanging in the doorway of the Holy Place and it was "a most elaborately woven fabric of seventy two twisted plaits of twenty four threads each, and it was sixty feet long and thirty feet wide." *
This was not just a gauzy curtain blowing in the breeze. This was a deterrent, designed to
keep unauthorized people out! But God rent it from top to bottom at Jesus' death and removed
the separation of God from his people. How can we ever doubt his love for us just as we are?
*biblestudies.com
Clarene Aitken
29.3.13
not a detail but a powerful new age.
Deleteronaldo