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
Monday, March 25, 2013
Unconditional Love
What is an experience that you have had of God's unconditional love here on Earth?
Hmm. When I first read this assignment I couldn't think of any circumstances of His unconditional love in my life. Then I looked out the window. The sun was shining very brightly after a season of gloom and rain. Rain! God lets rain fall on everyone regardless of what s/he believes. And sun! The sun doesn't shine on my yard only and not on my neighbors. Lilacs! Anyone who passes by a lilac bush is blessed with their fragrance. All of nature, even in drought. It is not a curse reserved for some and not others. Everyone in an area of drought is effected. And when it breaks, it breaks for everyone. God provides a world so beautiful and blessed and he provides it for all of us. "Just to let you know, I Love You! This is my gift to you." signed, "God." Clarene Aitken 26.3.13
Extended family brings acceptance to life in the whole group. Grandparents often create quiet confidence during grandchild care. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins spice the rich broth of relational soup. Seconds and Thirds (cousins) reach into history announcing truths rare.
Parents embark on a quest, no rule book nor definitive plan. “Will my brood of ‘kidlings’ come to know life as a joy or a pain?” Passing on the Spirit’s delight, Creator’s joy, Christ’s clan, Acceptance, ‘open door policy’, welcoming hearts, mercy reign.
Guiding hands by definition bring a training mode to rule. Negotiating childhood for the precocious little one needs the ‘real’. Delivering consequences, listening deeply, finding fun, being a fool. Each child brings the lessons to the parent with which to deal.
My anxious self, bit fingernails to the quick. Grandmother Anne said, “Come here my boy.” Taking up my wounded hands in hers sweet, soft, slick, “See these beautiful gifts God has given? Use them with joy.”
A jewel-like moment resting on the velvet of childhood, No preachment of wrath, no fearful pronouncement of doom. A loving observation meant to extend self-care by love not should. New perspectives deliver truth out of Creator’s loving womb.
Find the pure, untrammeled truths resting in your life’s treasure chest. Take note, some come from love, some from like, each securely kept. Hold them up for examination; bring them close to your breast. Spirit’s mercy, Word Become Flesh’s grace, Creator’s kindly tears wept.
Among your beloveds have they received clear love, kindly like? Are you true in your recitation of the gospel’s joyful wonder? Will jewels of life be created, boundaries strong guide as a dike? Shall we thrive as God’s beloved children or with the world fall asunder?
Recently, I had a very important program to present before the whole Sunday School. I was in charge. I had special guests, food, and decorations. I didn't ask for help, because I wanted to do it 'my way', and no one really knew what I was doing(a Christian Seder Service)
Everyone was looking forward to it. I prepared for over 2 months. I did the set-up for 2 days, and then stayed up very late (7am) the night before the Sunday Event, still trying to process an overload of information I had acquired about the project.
I was in over my head.
The program was to begin just after 10am on Sunday morning. I WOKE UP at 10am on Sunday morning. I wanted to crawl under a rock and stay there forever. I got to church at 10:15am.
Everyone was waiting for me. They had been worried about me. I had totally embarrassed myself. Nevertheless, I proceeded to present the program. It was...satisfactory. It could have been ever so much better.
Afterwards, people complimented me on the program. They thanked me for this new experience. The Pastor thanked me in person, and again at the next Church Service. The other participants thanked me for the experience. The choir director raved about it during choir practice. It was embarrassing.
No one mentioned my lateness. No one has yet to mention my faux pas. They only politely thank me for the new experience; and even talk about doing it again, maybe for the whole church, so that others could enjoy it, too.
I expected to be 'called on the carpet'. I expected to be discredited. Instead, I am praised and given another chance. I am humbled. That is unconditional Love.
Unconditional Love
ReplyDeleteHmm. When I first read this assignment I couldn't think of any circumstances of His unconditional love in my life. Then I looked out the window. The sun was shining very brightly after a season of gloom and rain.
Rain! God lets rain fall on everyone regardless of what s/he believes.
And sun! The sun doesn't shine on my yard only and not on my neighbors.
Lilacs! Anyone who passes by a lilac bush is blessed with their fragrance.
All of nature, even in drought. It is not a curse reserved for some and not others. Everyone in an area of drought is effected. And when it breaks, it breaks for everyone. God provides a world so beautiful and blessed and he provides it for all of us.
"Just to let you know, I Love You!
This is my gift to you."
signed, "God."
Clarene Aitken
26.3.13
you open eyes to the great cathedral. thanks.
Deleteronaldo
This is just perfect!
ReplyDeleteUnconditional Love
ReplyDeleteConditional Like
Extended family brings acceptance to life in the whole group.
Grandparents often create quiet confidence during grandchild care.
Aunts, Uncles, Cousins spice the rich broth of relational soup.
Seconds and Thirds (cousins) reach into history announcing truths rare.
Parents embark on a quest, no rule book nor definitive plan.
“Will my brood of ‘kidlings’ come to know life as a joy or a pain?”
Passing on the Spirit’s delight, Creator’s joy, Christ’s clan,
Acceptance, ‘open door policy’, welcoming hearts, mercy reign.
Guiding hands by definition bring a training mode to rule.
Negotiating childhood for the precocious little one needs the ‘real’.
Delivering consequences, listening deeply, finding fun, being a fool.
Each child brings the lessons to the parent with which to deal.
My anxious self, bit fingernails to the quick.
Grandmother Anne said, “Come here my boy.”
Taking up my wounded hands in hers sweet, soft, slick,
“See these beautiful gifts God has given? Use them with joy.”
A jewel-like moment resting on the velvet of childhood,
No preachment of wrath, no fearful pronouncement of doom.
A loving observation meant to extend self-care by love not should.
New perspectives deliver truth out of Creator’s loving womb.
Find the pure, untrammeled truths resting in your life’s treasure chest.
Take note, some come from love, some from like, each securely kept.
Hold them up for examination; bring them close to your breast.
Spirit’s mercy, Word Become Flesh’s grace, Creator’s kindly tears wept.
Among your beloveds have they received clear love, kindly like?
Are you true in your recitation of the gospel’s joyful wonder?
Will jewels of life be created, boundaries strong guide as a dike?
Shall we thrive as God’s beloved children or with the world fall asunder?
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
27.3.13
Unconditional Love
ReplyDeleteRecently, I had a very important program to present
before the whole Sunday School.
I was in charge.
I had special guests, food, and decorations.
I didn't ask for help,
because I wanted to do it 'my way',
and no one really knew what I was doing(a Christian Seder Service)
Everyone was looking forward to it.
I prepared for over 2 months.
I did the set-up for 2 days, and then stayed up very late (7am)
the night before the Sunday Event, still trying to process an overload of information I had acquired about the project.
I was in over my head.
The program was to begin just after 10am on Sunday morning.
I WOKE UP at 10am on Sunday morning.
I wanted to crawl under a rock and stay there forever.
I got to church at 10:15am.
Everyone was waiting for me.
They had been worried about me.
I had totally embarrassed myself.
Nevertheless, I proceeded to present the program.
It was...satisfactory.
It could have been ever so much better.
Afterwards, people complimented me on the program.
They thanked me for this new experience.
The Pastor thanked me in person,
and again at the next Church Service.
The other participants thanked me for the experience.
The choir director raved about it during choir practice.
It was embarrassing.
No one mentioned my lateness.
No one has yet to mention my faux pas.
They only politely thank me for the new experience; and even talk about doing it again, maybe for the whole church, so that others could enjoy it, too.
I expected to be 'called on the carpet'.
I expected to be discredited.
Instead, I am praised and given another chance.
I am humbled.
That is unconditional Love.
fHs
Sara