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 20, 2013
Psalms
Choose a Psalm and write about it - what it means to you or a new way of looking at it. Or, if you want, write a new Psalm-like piece yourself to the glory of God.
God of joyful presence, I raise this song to you. Life from your gracious hand blesses all, not the few. Your constant mercies daily, come in sunshine and dew. May my household celebrate your care, ever be true.
Creator holds the universe with skillful, artistic care. Each unfolding moment oft reveals loves joyful flair. Galaxies distant exhibit wonder as space we begin to dare. Inner worlds, science brings to light our ecosystem we share.
Word Become Flesh gives form, substance clear. Stuff of life, hugs reward, relationships so dear, Christ Jesus come, show us how not sin to fear. Hold us close, remind us daily, you are ever near.
Wind of God, Spirit Eternal, lift our hearts in life’s dance. Instruct us in wisdom, build courage, justice enhance. Provide backbeat; capture the rhythm as our soul’s prance. Together may we build community, sin’s harm to lance.
People of God, Community of faith, climb across the mountain scree. Take on the tasks of mercy, compassion; never stop until all are free. Provide God’s world with servants true for all to see. Pour out love’s balm, lift up the trodden, show each how to be.
God of joyful praise, we raise our song to you. Your gracious hand blesses this day for all, not the few. Mercy fills the day full, sunshine, gracious dew. All beloveds celebrate your kind care, ever to you true.
Create in me O God, an immune, disinfected heart that can ward off the onslaught of poisonous arrows that seek to kill its joy, love and grace; and imbed seeds of indifference and spiteful reactions into the painful wounds they create.
Create for me O God, a state-of-the-sacred filtering system within my brain that separates out prejudicial muck that once slid through, so-called truths which seep in and pollute streams of transparency and fester into sour attitudes.
Cast into me O God, clear vision of your grace, free-flowing into and through my pulse and thoughts and unfading faith that every miniscule, yet persistent spark of prayer and action will help dissipate the darkness.
Connect for me O God my mouth and actions with my newly cleansed intentions and commitments; and while you’re at it, keep my foot of self-ordained, righteous indignation out of my big mouth and attune my new heart to joyful, loving service.
Walk with me Lord I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I’m not afraid. I’m not troubled I simply know I need your presence.
Walk with me Lord I know I’m impatient and I’m tired. I need your grace to help me understand my neighbor. I need your wisdom to not only know the words to speak but to know the ‘when’ to speak it.
Walk with me Lord Those who I help need more than me. They need You, your hand your Word your Spirit.
Walk with me Lord I know you’re not done with me yet. You haven’t finished teaching and healing and loving this servant. And I need all you have for me. Walk with me Lord.
I was in Seattle attending the Orientation and Training Center for Blind adults. Being newly legally blind, I still had some useable vision like most of the students here. I had just learned to write the alphabet in Braille, and with my stylus was punching out the letters: T-H-E L-O-R-D I-S M-Y S-H-E P-H-E-R-D... one letter at a time.
I was writing to a blind friend of mine. She was totally blind from birth and together we had started a support group for people new to vision loss. Prior to this she would have someone read my letters to her. This would be the first time she could read my notes for herself. I punched out more letters. H-E R-E-S-T-O-R-E-T-H M-Y S-O-U-L. My soul did feel restored as I moved along. I W-I-L-L F-E-A-R N-O E-V-I-L...
Everything I did in school from computer training to cooking and mobility training was done blindfolded, even this exercise in writing. I hurried along. Now I was ready to close. I S-H-A-L-L D-W-E-L-L I-N T-H-E H-O-U-S-E O-F T-H-E L-O-R-D F-O-R-E-V-ER...
This may have been a letter to my blind friend, but it was also a letter to me- - to myself- -to remind me that in my studies and travels and from then on, though I was blind, yet shall I see and He will be my sighted guide forever.
God of joyful presence
ReplyDeleteGod of joyful presence, I raise this song to you.
Life from your gracious hand blesses all, not the few.
Your constant mercies daily, come in sunshine and dew.
May my household celebrate your care, ever be true.
Creator holds the universe with skillful, artistic care.
Each unfolding moment oft reveals loves joyful flair.
Galaxies distant exhibit wonder as space we begin to dare.
Inner worlds, science brings to light our ecosystem we share.
Word Become Flesh gives form, substance clear.
Stuff of life, hugs reward, relationships so dear,
Christ Jesus come, show us how not sin to fear.
Hold us close, remind us daily, you are ever near.
Wind of God, Spirit Eternal, lift our hearts in life’s dance.
Instruct us in wisdom, build courage, justice enhance.
Provide backbeat; capture the rhythm as our soul’s prance.
Together may we build community, sin’s harm to lance.
People of God, Community of faith, climb across the mountain scree.
Take on the tasks of mercy, compassion; never stop until all are free.
Provide God’s world with servants true for all to see.
Pour out love’s balm, lift up the trodden, show each how to be.
God of joyful praise, we raise our song to you.
Your gracious hand blesses this day for all, not the few.
Mercy fills the day full, sunshine, gracious dew.
All beloveds celebrate your kind care, ever to you true.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
20.3.13
Inspiring, confirming.
DeleteClarene Aitken
Thank you. I appreciate your careful daily discipline in writing.
ReplyDeleteJoel
Create in Me
ReplyDeleteBy Marlene Obie
Create in me O God,
an immune, disinfected heart
that can ward off the onslaught
of poisonous arrows
that seek to kill its joy, love and grace;
and imbed seeds of indifference
and spiteful reactions
into the painful wounds they create.
Create for me O God,
a state-of-the-sacred filtering system
within my brain that separates out
prejudicial muck that once slid through,
so-called truths which seep in and
pollute streams of transparency
and fester into sour attitudes.
Cast into me O God,
clear vision of your grace,
free-flowing into and through
my pulse and thoughts
and unfading faith that every miniscule,
yet persistent spark of prayer and action
will help dissipate the darkness.
Connect for me O God
my mouth and actions with
my newly cleansed intentions
and commitments;
and while you’re at it,
keep my foot of self-ordained,
righteous indignation out
of my big mouth and
attune my new heart
to joyful, loving service.
Amen sister. preach it to me.
Deleteronaldo
Walk With Me Lord – A Psalm
ReplyDeleteWalk with me Lord
I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
I’m not afraid.
I’m not troubled
I simply know
I need your presence.
Walk with me Lord
I know I’m impatient
and I’m tired.
I need your grace
to help me understand my neighbor.
I need your wisdom
to not only know the words to speak
but to know the ‘when’ to speak it.
Walk with me Lord
Those who I help
need more than me.
They need You,
your hand
your Word
your Spirit.
Walk with me Lord
I know you’re not done with me yet.
You haven’t finished teaching
and healing
and loving
this servant.
And I need
all you have for me.
Walk with me Lord.
heartfelt, one step at a time.
Deleteronaldo
Thank you for this new Psalm Larry. It speaks to me as I move through my day. He really does walk with me. Clarene
DeletePsalm 23
ReplyDeleteThe Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....
I was in Seattle attending the Orientation and Training Center for Blind adults. Being newly legally blind, I still had some useable vision like most of the students here. I had just learned to write the alphabet in Braille, and with my stylus was punching out the letters: T-H-E L-O-R-D
I-S M-Y S-H-E P-H-E-R-D... one letter at a time.
I was writing to a blind friend of mine. She was totally blind from birth and together we had started a support group for people new to vision loss. Prior to this she would have someone read my letters to her. This would be the first time she could read my notes for herself.
I punched out more letters. H-E R-E-S-T-O-R-E-T-H M-Y S-O-U-L. My soul did feel restored as I moved along. I W-I-L-L F-E-A-R N-O E-V-I-L...
Everything I did in school from computer training to cooking and mobility training was done blindfolded, even this exercise in writing. I hurried along. Now I was ready to close.
I S-H-A-L-L D-W-E-L-L I-N T-H-E H-O-U-S-E O-F T-H-E L-O-R-D F-O-R-E-V-ER...
This may have been a letter to my blind friend, but it was also a letter to me- - to myself- -to remind me that in my studies and travels and from then on, though I was blind, yet shall I see and He will be my sighted guide forever.
Clarene Aitken
21.3.13
simple, direct, powerful.
Deleteronaldo