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 13, 2013
Sinners & Saints
Write about Martin Luther's Sinner/Saint dynamic within us all and how that helps you have compassion for others as well as yourself. Which one are you nurturing? Do both need to be nurtured in different ways?
"You mean you love me the way I am? Really?" Simultaneous saint and sinner constantly reminds me that Jesus instructed us to "work on the way you love each other and leave the judging part to Me." Bill France
The sinner/saint dynamic speaks very much to me about Grace. It removes the impossible goal of perfection, and therefore also the deep darkness of never being perfect. It doesn't "let us off the hook," but reassures us that we are loved no matter what.
I realized, though, in reflecting on the questions, that while I have tended to look at this concept in both an individual and a corporate way I have also looked at it from basically only one direction: bottom-up. I have thought of this concept in terms of God's grace, but have overlooked the importance of fitting it into the grace I should extend to my fellow sinner/saints.
Thank you for giving me some "food for thought" on my Lenten journey.
I am constantly looking for ways to connect with those in the age group of 20-45 years. So in one sense this way of talking does not help me connect, because many today are not worried about sin and / or where they will spend eternity.
They are, however, concerned with life around them: creation and how humans are treating one another. I don't use the words "sin" or "sinner" just as I avoid using the word "evangelism", because there is too much bad press associated with them. I can talk about "injustice", "cruelty toward the innocent", "wasteful living", "violence" - use your imagination. I can share how living in God's kingdom means you are concerned about these issues and are called to be active in changing them.
I also believe it is important to challenge an often held view about the "evil of corporations, etc...". I may say something like, "I understand your frustration about this, but what are you doing in a positive way to change what you disagree with."
yes! Certainly the language is challenging to that age group especially. Kudos to you for really trying to convey the paradox of this wonderfully rich Lutheran imagery in a contextual and modern way :) That's difficult & valuable!
Simul Justis et Peccator (Simultaneously Justified and Sinful)
Reality always brings the best outcome in paradoxes deployed. Saint and Sinner has the weathered look of ages. Embraced fully, one finds the gyroscopic center Creator employed. Religious systems reducing this paradox gather Satan’s wages.
Finding the heart of this reality can be done with Spirit’s help. Baptismal covenant reassures Creator’s promise will stand. Grow up in faith’s community as a feisty young whelp, Grace, mercy, compassion, service, fearless dying, mark this band.
Learning to center in the moment, provides a healthy view. Word Become Flesh walks each step, feels each tread. Creator supplies necessary items, been forever true. Spirit rejoices in opportunity to lift up, brings street cred.
Isolation the most devastating circumstance to know, Soul-mates travel close, bring encouragement, correction. Getting trapped in self-imposed exile will destruction sow. Confession, forgiveness, absolution root out spiritual infection.
Ever vigilant, one must not deny the larceny languishing in ones’ heart. Let light pervade, ‘twill clearly display darkness that lurks. Each day begins with a reminder of God’s grace at its start. Nightly prayer offers God the day’s work, play, joy; faith never shirks.
Lest one get an ego boost by claiming self-righteous worth, Our best can only be so by following Jesus’ path. Glad-handing, back-slapping religious folk do not bring mirth, Honest servants claim salvation through Christ alone, avoid wrath.
When looking in the mirror, do you see a child of God? Are there marks of honest effort, failures sad, joys pure? Walk assured, grounded, knowing not Satan’s rod. Saintly sinner, sinful saint knows Christ’s cure!
May you be blessed with the power of reality this day. May your honest efforts find reward in love’s outcome real. May relationships include God’s presence along the way. May wholeness be abundant in your baptismal seal.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div. 14 March 2013
Lets go of figurative slaps in the face and forgives Engages in prayer and devotional time religiously at same time each day Bridles her tongue and steers it toward the lighter, compassionate, uplifting words Speaks out for the misunderstood and objects of scorn when she hears misinformation or prejudice being passed on Refrains from gloating (verbally and silently) when disregarded advice proves true Owns and cleans up her own messes. SOMETIMES
Sister Sinner
Stores snide comments, dirty looks and mean bullets meant to bring her down in a file marked “I will repay" Gets to dedicated prayer time, or not, after facebook, e-mail, games, writing time, reading, etc. Gives tongue lashings with “shoulds and should haves” and “why didn’t you?” before stopping to consider effects, withholds encouraging comments Silently listens to people being trashed for fear of starting an argument she doesn’t want to pursue. Says “Didn’t I tell you?” or gives a knowing smile that clearly broadcasts that she’s thinking it. Complains about other people’s messes and asks why “someone” doesn’t do something about them. SOMETIMES
“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” Rom. 7:19
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses made us alive together with Christ--by Grace you have been saved--" Eph. 2:4
"You mean you love me the way I am? Really?" Simultaneous saint and sinner constantly reminds me that Jesus instructed us to "work on the way you love each other and leave the judging part to Me." Bill France
ReplyDeleteamen!
Deleteronaldo
The sinner/saint dynamic speaks very much to me about Grace.
ReplyDeleteIt removes the impossible goal of perfection, and therefore also the deep darkness of never being perfect.
It doesn't "let us off the hook," but reassures us that we are loved no matter what.
I realized, though, in reflecting on the questions, that while I have tended to look at this concept in both an individual and a corporate way I have also looked at it from basically only one direction: bottom-up. I have thought of this concept in terms of God's grace, but have overlooked the importance of fitting it into the grace I should extend to my fellow sinner/saints.
Thank you for giving me some "food for thought" on my Lenten journey.
~Lisa, formerly of Shoreline
Edna Hong wrote of the Downward Ascent as she unpacked God's grace bestowed. We all have room to serve when we walk together as saint/sinners.
Deleteronaldo
I am constantly looking for ways to connect with those in the age group of 20-45 years. So in one sense this way of talking does not help me connect, because many today are not worried about sin and / or where they will spend eternity.
ReplyDeleteThey are, however, concerned with life around them: creation and how humans are treating one another. I don't use the words "sin" or "sinner" just as I avoid using the word "evangelism", because there is too much bad press associated with them. I can talk about "injustice", "cruelty toward the innocent", "wasteful living", "violence" - use your imagination. I can share how living in God's kingdom means you are concerned about these issues and are called to be active in changing them.
I also believe it is important to challenge an often held view about the "evil of corporations, etc...". I may say something like, "I understand your frustration about this, but what are you doing in a positive way to change what you disagree with."
Just some thoughts!
Joel Lohafer
Bonhoeffer brought real meat to the bones of stating theology in non-religious terms. thanks Joel for the effort.
Deleteronaldo
yes! Certainly the language is challenging to that age group especially. Kudos to you for really trying to convey the paradox of this wonderfully rich Lutheran imagery in a contextual and modern way :) That's difficult & valuable!
DeleteSimul Justis et Peccator
ReplyDelete(Simultaneously Justified and Sinful)
Reality always brings the best outcome in paradoxes deployed.
Saint and Sinner has the weathered look of ages.
Embraced fully, one finds the gyroscopic center Creator employed.
Religious systems reducing this paradox gather Satan’s wages.
Finding the heart of this reality can be done with Spirit’s help.
Baptismal covenant reassures Creator’s promise will stand.
Grow up in faith’s community as a feisty young whelp,
Grace, mercy, compassion, service, fearless dying, mark this band.
Learning to center in the moment, provides a healthy view.
Word Become Flesh walks each step, feels each tread.
Creator supplies necessary items, been forever true.
Spirit rejoices in opportunity to lift up, brings street cred.
Isolation the most devastating circumstance to know,
Soul-mates travel close, bring encouragement, correction.
Getting trapped in self-imposed exile will destruction sow.
Confession, forgiveness, absolution root out spiritual infection.
Ever vigilant, one must not deny the larceny languishing in ones’ heart.
Let light pervade, ‘twill clearly display darkness that lurks.
Each day begins with a reminder of God’s grace at its start.
Nightly prayer offers God the day’s work, play, joy; faith never shirks.
Lest one get an ego boost by claiming self-righteous worth,
Our best can only be so by following Jesus’ path.
Glad-handing, back-slapping religious folk do not bring mirth,
Honest servants claim salvation through Christ alone, avoid wrath.
When looking in the mirror, do you see a child of God?
Are there marks of honest effort, failures sad, joys pure?
Walk assured, grounded, knowing not Satan’s rod.
Saintly sinner, sinful saint knows Christ’s cure!
May you be blessed with the power of reality this day.
May your honest efforts find reward in love’s outcome real.
May relationships include God’s presence along the way.
May wholeness be abundant in your baptismal seal.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
14 March 2013
RESIDENTS OF GRACE HALL
ReplyDeleteBy Marlene Obie
St. Hope of Intentional Love:
Lets go of figurative slaps in the face and forgives
Engages in prayer and devotional time religiously at same time each day
Bridles her tongue and steers it toward the lighter, compassionate, uplifting words
Speaks out for the misunderstood and objects of scorn when she hears misinformation or prejudice being passed on
Refrains from gloating (verbally and silently) when disregarded advice proves true
Owns and cleans up her own messes.
SOMETIMES
Sister Sinner
Stores snide comments, dirty looks and mean bullets meant to bring her down in a file marked “I will repay"
Gets to dedicated prayer time, or not, after facebook, e-mail, games, writing time, reading, etc.
Gives tongue lashings with “shoulds and should haves” and “why didn’t you?” before stopping to consider effects, withholds encouraging comments
Silently listens to people being trashed for fear of starting an argument she doesn’t want to pursue.
Says “Didn’t I tell you?” or gives a knowing smile that clearly broadcasts that she’s thinking it.
Complains about other people’s messes and asks why “someone” doesn’t do something about them.
SOMETIMES
“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” Rom. 7:19
P.S.
Delete"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses made us alive together with Christ--by Grace you have been saved--" Eph. 2:4