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
Friday, March 14, 2014
Spirit Scent
Write about a scent that you
associate with your religion or spirituality.
Ooooooooohhhhh aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh They could smell it’s wonder and it took them places. They remembered Grandma’s hand kneaded homemade bread. They remembered how the butter melt as it hit the just-opened warm bun. They remember the soft delicious delicate taste as it touched their tongue. After they opened their eyes they looked at each other and shared a moment of wonder with fresh bread.
Sometimes holiness comes in candles and song. Sometimes it comes in words preached to the heart … Sometimes it comes in those simple moments when we share something simple and wonderful and timeless. I treasure those holy moments that we will remember forever.
Nothing makes me settle down and get in a reflective mood like bee's wax candles burning at the altar of a large colorful church. I usually sit most of the way in the back and get lost in my thoughts and reflections. Doug Millar
The smell of baking bread. Its scent reaches out to wherever I am in a house, building or even outside driving past certain places. I inhale comfort and warmth and anticipation, a wealth of metaphors. Sustenance of life. It wafts from ovens around the world. Common core of humanity.
A pretty sprinkler tin of April Showers talcum powder sat on the bathroom shelf all my growing up years. A sweet flowery scent my mother loved, I loved it too. Sometimes I would sprinkle a little on my fingertips, just to smell the enticing aroma and ponder the mystery of being 'grown up.'
When I was 10 it was decided I old was enough to go to Sunday School at the First English Lutheran Church in Billings, Montana. Great activity preceded the day. We had to put together my clothing - a hat to go with my best dress, my first pair of rayon stockings, and my first high heeled shoes (one inch high). I practiced several times, walking across the room learning to balance at this heady new altitude. I felt so grown up and ready to go.
Sunday morning came and after my bath my mother handed me the tin of April Showers talcum. An affirmation! I was grown up! I sprinkled it liberally under my arms and over my torso, until she took the tin away and set it back on the shelf. Every Sunday after that I used the talcum until at some point they stopped making that scent. I don't remember thinking much about it at the time. I was using other scents, fragrances and was involved with the business of being 'grown up.'
A few years ago I was leafing through a Vermont Country Store catalog and saw an advertisement for April Showers cologne.
What memories it stirred up! I sent for a bottle, which sits on my dresser today. Once in a while I spray a little on my finger tips and rub it in. It is not quite the same fragrance but close enough. I am at last, grown up enough to use it. Clarene Aitken 16.3.14
In the Ancient Orthodox Church surrounded by mysterious Icons and semi-darkness The Great Incense Burner swings from the ceiling sweeping back and forth across the Altar wafting its thick, exotic fragrance throughout the Sanctuary
The Priest walks up and down the aisles swinging the thurible on its brass chain to and fro back and forth trying to make sure every square inch of the pews is drenched in a sweet, pungent aroma
Smoke ascends throughout like a visible sign of the Holy Spirit carrying the prayers of this Gathering of Saints up to Heaven with Sighs too deep for Human Understanding
After a while, the scent can become overpowering like the very Presence of God overshadowing Moses If you are careful you can feel the link to the Past, Present, and Future Right here, Right now
Sweet Trail of Tears
ReplyDelete[Healer of Our Every Ill]
Refrain:
Sweet the trail of Lenten tears, journey of the blessed,
Candle light now leading on ‘til Easter’s hill is crested.
Frankincense and myrrh do tell us; of our Savior’s love remind us,
Fill us with your breath oh Wisdom pure.
Dawn’s clean air greets every new day, Brings to us fresh hope for our way,
May we follow down our Master’s path.
Crackling fire with smoking embers, warms our hands, God’s grace remembers,
All our needs are met in full each day.
Gentle scents of sisters, brothers, as we work to heal up bothers,
Servants the Holy One unite.
Garden earth warmed up by Spring son, welcoming new seeds, life begun,
Farmer of our Souls renew us now.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
14.3.14
Simple Moments and Holiness
ReplyDeleteOoooooooohhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh
They could smell it’s wonder and it took them places.
They remembered Grandma’s hand kneaded
homemade bread.
They remembered how the butter melt
as it hit the just-opened warm bun.
They remember the soft
delicious
delicate
taste
as it touched their tongue.
After they opened their eyes
they looked at each other
and shared a moment of wonder
with fresh bread.
Sometimes holiness comes in candles
and song.
Sometimes it comes in words preached
to the heart …
Sometimes
it comes in those simple moments
when we share something simple and wonderful
and timeless.
I treasure those holy moments
that we will remember
forever.
by Larry P Morris
DeleteNothing makes me settle down and get in a reflective mood like bee's wax candles burning at the altar of a large colorful church. I usually sit most of the way in the back and get lost in my thoughts and reflections. Doug Millar
ReplyDeleteBREAD BAKING INCENSE
ReplyDeleteThe smell of baking bread.
Its scent reaches out
to wherever I am in a house, building
or even outside driving past certain places.
I inhale comfort and warmth and anticipation,
a wealth of metaphors.
Sustenance of life.
It wafts from ovens around the world.
Common core of humanity.
Marlene Obie
Timeless Fragrance
ReplyDeleteA pretty sprinkler tin of April Showers talcum powder sat on the bathroom shelf all my growing up years. A sweet flowery scent my mother loved, I loved it too. Sometimes I would sprinkle a little on my fingertips, just to smell the enticing aroma and ponder the mystery of being 'grown up.'
When I was 10 it was decided I old was enough to go to Sunday School at the First English Lutheran Church in Billings, Montana. Great activity preceded the day. We had to put together my clothing - a hat to go with my best dress, my first pair of rayon stockings, and my first high heeled shoes (one inch high). I practiced several times, walking across the room learning to balance at this heady new altitude. I felt so grown up and ready to go.
Sunday morning came and after my bath my mother handed me the tin of April Showers talcum. An affirmation! I was grown up! I sprinkled it liberally under my arms and over my torso, until she took the tin away and set it back on the shelf. Every Sunday after that I used the talcum until at some point they stopped making that scent. I don't remember thinking much about it at the time. I was using other scents, fragrances and was involved with the business of being 'grown up.'
A few years ago I was leafing through a Vermont Country Store catalog and saw an advertisement for April Showers cologne.
What memories it stirred up! I sent for a bottle, which sits on my dresser today. Once in a while I spray a little on my finger tips and rub it in. It is not quite the same fragrance but close enough. I am at last, grown up enough to use it.
Clarene Aitken
16.3.14
Friday, March 14, 2014
ReplyDeleteEASTER VIGIL INCENSE
In the Ancient Orthodox Church
surrounded by mysterious Icons and semi-darkness
The Great Incense Burner swings from the ceiling
sweeping back and forth
across the Altar
wafting its thick, exotic fragrance
throughout the Sanctuary
The Priest walks up and down the aisles
swinging the thurible on its brass chain
to and fro
back and forth
trying to make sure
every square inch of the pews
is drenched
in a sweet, pungent aroma
Smoke ascends throughout
like a visible sign
of the Holy Spirit
carrying the prayers of
this Gathering of Saints
up to Heaven
with Sighs
too deep for Human Understanding
After a while, the scent can become overpowering like
the very Presence of God overshadowing Moses
If you are careful
you can feel the link to the Past, Present, and Future
Right here, Right now
for His sake
Sara