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 18, 2013
What's your favorite non-religious quote? Mine is Helen Keller's "One cannot consent to creep when one is called to soar" pick your favorite quote and back it up with theology to make it a religious inspiration as well. Just for fun ona Monday...
“Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.” Mark Twain
Creator looked about at the moment filled with love. Spirit infused all with the possibility of the divine. Word Soon To Become Flesh assisted from above. The One in Three toasted the plan with heavenly wine.
Not included in the creation process: time. In fact, all eternity summoned in the now, The co-creators, humans, like the notions’ rhyme. Truth-be-told all must to the present bow.
So potent, the moment, all possible can be found. Abundance, verdure fills each nanosecond brimful. Wonder, amazement, ecstasy, burst creations ground. Life pulses in expectation of the good not the sinful.
No need to pace the living of life. Awake to the moment will only bring joy. Staying in shape in all ways avoids strife. Co-creating with God needs a mood forthright not coy.
Excuses waft about as the great challenge slips. From God’s side not a beat of the plan lost. Following the grand design requires keen tucks, nips. Best a team effort not a lessor partner bossed.
Some habits help make the day flow well. Begin daily consciousness opening one’s heart. Through the hours, check Spirit’s advice, listen don’t tell. Word Become Flesh a strong support guides the cart.
Look for the outcome that nurtures the most. Don’t get side-swiped by sins’ sad sack mood. Each day brings a spectrum of ingredients from the host. Mature adults handle what comes, seldom brood.
May today be a powerful, life-affirming event. May you grow strong in the effort, succeed. May those around you be confident on chores sent. May your garden flourish, meet every need.
‘And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk to blossom.” Anaïs Nin
I found this on a piece of fabric in an embroidery kit about twenty years ago, and I completed, framed it and had it on the wall by my bed for 17 of those years. It’s now in a box, but will be soon be back in a spot I can see it frequently.
When I find a warm, cozy bud of a comfort zone I love to sink into it and stretch out the moments as long as I can, do what I think I do well, enjoy the company of other buds on the same branch, kick back and relax. What I saw in the garden existences of the generation before me and was being grafted for was a philosophy that the “good life” was to be found by leaving your roots in the subdivision soil where they were planted, work in a steady job with benefits until retirement age, and keep your involvement and social circles within your own variety. Change your status quo only under the auspices of master gardeners who guaranteed long-term success. Therefore, I would nap and dream from my gated plot, enjoying its beauty, wondering what I might do and be beyond it. As often happens when we ignore the call to move forward and ignore it, our security bed moves us by happenstance and we can only hang on for the flight over the garden wall.
After being transplanted, I saw through a different lattice and started opening petals. What a release it has been, not easy, but revealing and satisfying. Of course, the petals will be dropping in the years to come, and I can only say c’est la vie!
Jesus taught and lived to teach his followers to go out beyond their homes and their country and went with them to bloom while they could and challenges us still to bloom with the love and compassion He gives us so our pollen and seeds can plant more.
May we shed our bud-like anxieties and bloom, be it where we were first planted, over the fence, or as far as the wind and birds may carry us.
“Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.”
ReplyDeleteMark Twain
Creator looked about at the moment filled with love.
Spirit infused all with the possibility of the divine.
Word Soon To Become Flesh assisted from above.
The One in Three toasted the plan with heavenly wine.
Not included in the creation process: time.
In fact, all eternity summoned in the now,
The co-creators, humans, like the notions’ rhyme.
Truth-be-told all must to the present bow.
So potent, the moment, all possible can be found.
Abundance, verdure fills each nanosecond brimful.
Wonder, amazement, ecstasy, burst creations ground.
Life pulses in expectation of the good not the sinful.
No need to pace the living of life.
Awake to the moment will only bring joy.
Staying in shape in all ways avoids strife.
Co-creating with God needs a mood forthright not coy.
Excuses waft about as the great challenge slips.
From God’s side not a beat of the plan lost.
Following the grand design requires keen tucks, nips.
Best a team effort not a lessor partner bossed.
Some habits help make the day flow well.
Begin daily consciousness opening one’s heart.
Through the hours, check Spirit’s advice, listen don’t tell.
Word Become Flesh a strong support guides the cart.
Look for the outcome that nurtures the most.
Don’t get side-swiped by sins’ sad sack mood.
Each day brings a spectrum of ingredients from the host.
Mature adults handle what comes, seldom brood.
May today be a powerful, life-affirming event.
May you grow strong in the effort, succeed.
May those around you be confident on chores sent.
May your garden flourish, meet every need.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
18.3.13
You Can Be Whatever You Want to Be
ReplyDeleteShe said it with great conviction
and she seemed to say it often
“You can be whatever you want to be”
It was motherly wisdom
It was meant to give us dreams
and hopes and perhaps
even passion!
It made me think Big
Dream Large
Wonder in good ways
about ‘what could be’
Perhaps she knew I would come around.
Perhaps she knew that in the end
what I really truly would want to be
… is me.
And so I am.
indeed, a blessing you are.
Deleteronaldo
I like an excerpt from the story of the Garasene demoniac in the NT. "He came to himself, rose and had something to eat".
ReplyDeleteDoug
DeleteBuds to Blooms
ReplyDeleteBy Marlene Obie
‘And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk to blossom.”
Anaïs Nin
I found this on a piece of fabric in an embroidery kit about twenty years ago, and I completed, framed it and had it on the wall by my bed for 17 of those years. It’s now in a box, but will be soon be back in a spot I can see it frequently.
When I find a warm, cozy bud of a comfort zone I love to sink into it and stretch out the moments as long as I can, do what I think I do well, enjoy the company of other buds on the same branch, kick back and relax. What I saw in the garden existences of the generation before me and was being grafted for was a philosophy that the “good life” was to be found by leaving your roots in the subdivision soil where they were planted, work in a steady job with benefits until retirement age, and keep your involvement and social circles within your own variety. Change your status quo only under the auspices of master gardeners who guaranteed long-term success. Therefore, I would nap and dream from my gated plot, enjoying its beauty, wondering what I might do and be beyond it. As often happens when we ignore the call to move forward and ignore it, our security bed moves us by happenstance and we can only hang on for the flight over the garden wall.
After being transplanted, I saw through a different lattice and started opening petals. What a release it has been, not easy, but revealing and satisfying. Of course, the petals will be dropping in the years to come, and I can only say c’est la vie!
Jesus taught and lived to teach his followers to go out beyond their homes and their country and went with them to bloom while they could and challenges us still to bloom with the love and compassion He gives us so our pollen and seeds can plant more.
May we shed our bud-like anxieties and bloom, be it where we were first planted, over the fence, or as far as the wind and birds may carry us.
Like!
ReplyDelete