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
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These...
Sunday's prompt is a picture - What does this picture make you think about? Write.
Jes’ one of those days, my buds n I lookin’ for some fun. We’d gone down by the creek on the ol’ path. Sun shinin’, birds making a racket, we all decided tuh run, There sat this Dude lookin’ like He’d always bin there, you do th math.
“What’s your names? Mine’s Jesus. Can I visit with you a while?” “Sarah, Isaac, Matthew and Zeke.” Answered Zack to this stranger. “I come down here as often as I can, my home’s up the road a mile.” “We haven’t seen you here before. ‘Course lately the road’s been a danger.”
“Sarah, I can see you’re one of the leaders of this group.” “How’s does it work being the only girl?” “They’re okay, for boys. We have great adventures as a troop. When it gets a little dangerous I find it best. We give it a whirl.”
“So these guys treat you right, don’t give you a bad time?” “We’re a close set of buds. All our lives known each other. These guys be better’n brothers, I trust’m on a good climb.” “You’ve got a precious thing goin’, friendships not a bother.”
“Matthew, you seem to be smallest. Can you keep up with this crew?” “No problem, Jesus. We have a rule that everyone gets home, every time.” “How’d you come up with such a thing? You’re really smart, really true.” “Well we need each other to make the day fun. We’d share our last dime.”
“Zeke, is your name that or are you Ezekiel really? There’s a famous prophet who’s got that name.” “My folks said they liked Zeke, ‘tis strong not touchy-feely” “Don’t be surprised, Zeke, if Spirit makes on you a special claim.”
“Isaac, you make me laugh. Did you know that’s your names’ meaning?” Zack got a twinkle in his already twinkly eye. “Life’s often a joke. So I look for the fun stuff. Say what I see, on humor leaning.” “Your friends follow where you lead, you must be a fine bloke.”
“One of my favorite things is a dog pile. Never get enough snuggles. Being close like this makes me feel loved through and through. Can we do this again sometime? My crazy schedule juggles. I’d like to be one of your fun-loving, adventurous crew?”
I love this picture of Jesus with the children because it looks so ‘real-life’ as far as the dynamics. Granted, I am seeing it through a modern-day lens. I love this picture because it challenged the vision of this story that I’ve always had in my head: the kids coming up for a blessing from Jesus in an orderly fashion. Sort of like we do at communion. Thinking about that made me increasingly frustrated with our current communion style – a line, efficiency, here’s your power-pellet or blessing. When Jesus asked the disciples to let the children come to him, I doubt that he patted each of them them on the head and dismissed them. Were they curious? In need of healing? Was there one that was chattier than all the rest and full of questions? Was there a shy one? A “naughty” one? Did any try to push Jesus’ physical boundaries (look under the robe to check for legs, roughhouse) Did anyone try to pull his beard or hair to see if it was real? Did anyone have a bouquet of dandelions (or the equivalent of the location/time)? Were any abused? Neglected? Treasured? Dirty? Potty training?
What did it mean for Jesus to ask the children to come to him – to take time out and spend time with them? I remember when I was a little kid and my sister was a baby. My family went to a party at a teacher’s house. Mrs. Kvamie. She was the nicest teacher in the whole world – I had her for 1st grade. Somehow, one night, she was having a party at her house and my dad, mom, sister and I were invited (I went to a church-school, where my dad was the pastor). I was bored though. I was the only kid there and everyone was so tall and there were probably quite a few who were smoking (it was the late ‘70’s) and I was trying to be good, but it was hard. Then, I remember that Mrs. Kvamie took time out of HER OWN PARTY to teach me the game “go fish”. That…is one of the nicest things that anyone has ever done for me and I have never forgotten it.
Jesus wasn’t at a party when the kids wanted to meet him. But he was in the middle of “grown-up work”. He took time out of that work to spend with the kids and I doubt they ever, any of them, forgot it.
He’s listening, laughing, enjoying the company, not lecturing, not teaching, not admonishing, just “hanging out” with them….
And they’re enjoying the time too, not pulling at him, rolling eyes, not straining to run away by themselves to find another adventure, or pull out something to pass the time with.
Here he is now, ready to listen to me, waiting for me to stop, talk, put the rest aside for now, not plan or go down my list, or feel guilty at what’s not being done, just be with him.
Observe the wonders around me wherever I am, listen to the birdsong, sit down and breathe in slow energy, release my delusionary grip of control of the world, let it go with a sigh and join in sending out laughter. Soon enough my adult will find me, try to grab onto the lobe of my work ethic and remind me that my life is ticking away, there is much to be done before I can’t.
But for now, sitting close and knowing I’m okay as I am, (however, whatever, whenever) is what’s playing and we’re not done yet.
NRSV Mark 10:14 & 16 ... Jesus ... said to them ... , "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs." ... And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Finally, something for Jesus to smile about!
Day after day endless lines of adults usually trying to GET something FROM Him
Daily, they cried, 'heal us' 'feed us' 'touch us' 'tell us the secrets of Heaven'
Then, for a fleeting moment the children came
with their sticky hands, smiles and hugs; silly jokes and simple laughter
not asking Jesus for anything; feeding Him spiritually, instead
with pure un-adult-erated LOVE
No wonder Jesus ordered the Disciples to "Let the little children come to Me." He got to enjoy proper perspective
Hangin’ Out With Word Made Flesh
ReplyDeleteJes’ one of those days, my buds n I lookin’ for some fun.
We’d gone down by the creek on the ol’ path.
Sun shinin’, birds making a racket, we all decided tuh run,
There sat this Dude lookin’ like He’d always bin there, you do th math.
“What’s your names? Mine’s Jesus. Can I visit with you a while?”
“Sarah, Isaac, Matthew and Zeke.” Answered Zack to this stranger.
“I come down here as often as I can, my home’s up the road a mile.”
“We haven’t seen you here before. ‘Course lately the road’s been a danger.”
“Sarah, I can see you’re one of the leaders of this group.”
“How’s does it work being the only girl?”
“They’re okay, for boys. We have great adventures as a troop.
When it gets a little dangerous I find it best. We give it a whirl.”
“So these guys treat you right, don’t give you a bad time?”
“We’re a close set of buds. All our lives known each other.
These guys be better’n brothers, I trust’m on a good climb.”
“You’ve got a precious thing goin’, friendships not a bother.”
“Matthew, you seem to be smallest. Can you keep up with this crew?”
“No problem, Jesus. We have a rule that everyone gets home, every time.”
“How’d you come up with such a thing? You’re really smart, really true.”
“Well we need each other to make the day fun. We’d share our last dime.”
“Zeke, is your name that or are you Ezekiel really?
There’s a famous prophet who’s got that name.”
“My folks said they liked Zeke, ‘tis strong not touchy-feely”
“Don’t be surprised, Zeke, if Spirit makes on you a special claim.”
“Isaac, you make me laugh. Did you know that’s your names’ meaning?”
Zack got a twinkle in his already twinkly eye. “Life’s often a joke.
So I look for the fun stuff. Say what I see, on humor leaning.”
“Your friends follow where you lead, you must be a fine bloke.”
“One of my favorite things is a dog pile. Never get enough snuggles.
Being close like this makes me feel loved through and through.
Can we do this again sometime? My crazy schedule juggles.
I’d like to be one of your fun-loving, adventurous crew?”
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
3.3.13
I love this picture of Jesus with the children because it looks so ‘real-life’ as far as the dynamics. Granted, I am seeing it through a modern-day lens. I love this picture because it challenged the vision of this story that I’ve always had in my head: the kids coming up for a blessing from Jesus in an orderly fashion. Sort of like we do at communion. Thinking about that made me increasingly frustrated with our current communion style – a line, efficiency, here’s your power-pellet or blessing. When Jesus asked the disciples to let the children come to him, I doubt that he patted each of them them on the head and dismissed them. Were they curious? In need of healing? Was there one that was chattier than all the rest and full of questions? Was there a shy one? A “naughty” one? Did any try to push Jesus’ physical boundaries (look under the robe to check for legs, roughhouse) Did anyone try to pull his beard or hair to see if it was real? Did anyone have a bouquet of dandelions (or the equivalent of the location/time)? Were any abused? Neglected? Treasured? Dirty? Potty training?
ReplyDeleteWhat did it mean for Jesus to ask the children to come to him – to take time out and spend time with them? I remember when I was a little kid and my sister was a baby. My family went to a party at a teacher’s house. Mrs. Kvamie. She was the nicest teacher in the whole world – I had her for 1st grade. Somehow, one night, she was having a party at her house and my dad, mom, sister and I were invited (I went to a church-school, where my dad was the pastor). I was bored though. I was the only kid there and everyone was so tall and there were probably quite a few who were smoking (it was the late ‘70’s) and I was trying to be good, but it was hard. Then, I remember that Mrs. Kvamie took time out of HER OWN PARTY to teach me the game “go fish”. That…is one of the nicest things that anyone has ever done for me and I have never forgotten it.
Jesus wasn’t at a party when the kids wanted to meet him. But he was in the middle of “grown-up work”. He took time out of that work to spend with the kids and I doubt they ever, any of them, forgot it.
Sweet, powerful memories. Resurrection makes Jesus "time" always possible. Thanks for enfleshing that!
Deleteronaldo
Jesus Time
ReplyDeleteBy Marlene Obie
He’s listening, laughing, enjoying the company,
not lecturing, not teaching, not admonishing,
just “hanging out” with them….
And they’re enjoying the time too,
not pulling at him, rolling eyes,
not straining to run away by themselves
to find another adventure, or pull out
something to pass the time with.
Here he is now, ready to listen to me, waiting
for me to stop, talk, put the rest aside for now,
not plan or go down my list, or feel guilty
at what’s not being done, just be with him.
Observe the wonders around me wherever I am,
listen to the birdsong, sit down and breathe in
slow energy, release my delusionary grip
of control of the world, let it go with a sigh
and join in sending out laughter.
Soon enough my adult will find me, try
to grab onto the lobe of my work ethic
and remind me that my life is ticking away,
there is much to be done before I can’t.
But for now, sitting close and knowing
I’m okay as I am, (however, whatever,
whenever) is what’s playing
and we’re not done yet.
hey Marlene, meet you by the creek with Word Become Flesh! go girl go.
Deleteronaldo
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJesus, God come in the flesh, Christ, the Savior of the World.
ReplyDeleteI stand in awe of Your majesty and power.
I am struck dumb with wonder at Your power and glory.
I stop in reverence in seeing Your royal nobility.
Then, Jesus, you look up.
You catch my eye and grin at me.
You speak, “Come and play! It’s a beautiful day and I love you!”
Yeah ...... thank you! I needed that!
ReplyDeleteThe Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These
ReplyDeleteNRSV Mark 10:14 & 16
... Jesus ... said to them ... , "Let the little children come to me;
do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs."
... And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Finally, something for Jesus to smile about!
Day after day
endless lines of adults
usually trying to GET something FROM Him
Daily, they cried,
'heal us'
'feed us'
'touch us'
'tell us the secrets of Heaven'
Then, for a fleeting moment
the children came
with their sticky hands,
smiles and hugs;
silly jokes and
simple laughter
not asking Jesus for anything;
feeding Him spiritually, instead
with pure
un-adult-erated
LOVE
No wonder Jesus ordered the Disciples to
"Let the little children come to Me."
He got to enjoy proper perspective
With the children
He finally got to smile.
fHs
Sara