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 17, 2014
Unresolved Questions
What is a faith question that is
unresolved for you? Attempt to resolve it through writing...How can this process of trying to resolve it be spiritually meaningful?
Oh how shall we hold Your love, what can we do this day? Our world knows not of Your grace, it shuns compassion’s way. Bring hope and mercy’s kindness, Your servants all lift up. Alongside homeless neighbors, Our meal together sup;
Can rich folk find the gospel, and loosen bank accounts. Does business work with pure hearts, drinking from crystal founts? Investors need Your Spirit, their bottom line to meet, Creator help us praise you, in every one we greet.
Which suffering will teach us to place our hands in Yours? How deep must be the darkness, before we seek Your shores? Must lonesomeness be painful, before we call it quits? Can we find a safe harbor, a place where the broken knits?
Our lifestyles bring us conflict; warfare seems our delight. We serve from ego’s strong place, neglecting other’s plight. The Estranger smiles most feral, wants brokenness to reign, Word Made Flesh heal our souls now, remove our deepest pain.
Life’s questions bring their blessings, confront and sharpen truth. No answers need to hold us, Life seldom remains smooth. Holy One keep all life well, desires our best return, Servants all gathered ‘round now, with thanks our hearts do burn.
One unresolved question, I cannot say. I have a thousand everyday. Why so many tragedies in one week? When and where is the peace we seek? How can we help all those in need? Who can we trust in this world to lead? How long in the desert of life will we roam? What is it like in our heavenly home? How much more time to I have to be here? Will I finish my purpose before the next tier? Where’s the complete answer book of what to do when To show all my love for my family and friends? Why do I feel like I move in slow motion While time and technology ride the jet expulsion? When will we ever learn to live on this earth With acknowledgement that everyone has worth? On and on I could go for pages and pages And offer them up to the wisest of sages. In the end, I must say that in God I must trust that all is in process and despite all the stress, whatever will happen whenever and why I might eventually know when I die. Or maybe not, that it won’t matter Because it will all be resolved. Marlene Obie
Knotty Questions
ReplyDelete[Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen]
Oh how shall we hold Your love, what can we do this day?
Our world knows not of Your grace, it shuns compassion’s way.
Bring hope and mercy’s kindness, Your servants all lift up.
Alongside homeless neighbors, Our meal together sup;
Can rich folk find the gospel, and loosen bank accounts.
Does business work with pure hearts, drinking from crystal founts?
Investors need Your Spirit, their bottom line to meet,
Creator help us praise you, in every one we greet.
Which suffering will teach us to place our hands in Yours?
How deep must be the darkness, before we seek Your shores?
Must lonesomeness be painful, before we call it quits?
Can we find a safe harbor, a place where the broken knits?
Our lifestyles bring us conflict; warfare seems our delight.
We serve from ego’s strong place, neglecting other’s plight.
The Estranger smiles most feral, wants brokenness to reign,
Word Made Flesh heal our souls now, remove our deepest pain.
Life’s questions bring their blessings, confront and sharpen truth.
No answers need to hold us, Life seldom remains smooth.
Holy One keep all life well, desires our best return,
Servants all gathered ‘round now, with thanks our hearts do burn.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
17.3.14
Stars in the Sky
ReplyDeleteStars in the sky
Make me smile and cry
As I think of those Saints
In the great bye and bye
Light in darkness
Bright as can be
Help us live in the moment
Help us live and be free
Free to be lovers
Free to be friends
Free touch others
Free to the end
Stars in the sky
Make me smile and cry
As I think of those Saints
In the great bye and bye
by Larry p Morris
(Not so tight with the theme.... more questions as a dance without a resolution but more of a beat)
What Was That?
ReplyDeleteOne unresolved question, I cannot say.
I have a thousand everyday.
Why so many tragedies in one week?
When and where is the peace we seek?
How can we help all those in need?
Who can we trust in this world to lead?
How long in the desert of life will we roam?
What is it like in our heavenly home?
How much more time to I have to be here?
Will I finish my purpose before the next tier?
Where’s the complete answer book of what to do when
To show all my love for my family and friends?
Why do I feel like I move in slow motion
While time and technology ride the jet expulsion?
When will we ever learn to live on this earth
With acknowledgement that everyone has worth?
On and on I could go for pages and pages
And offer them up to the wisest of sages.
In the end, I must say
that in God I must trust
that all is in process
and despite all the stress,
whatever will happen whenever and why
I might eventually know when I die.
Or maybe not, that it won’t matter
Because it will all be resolved.
Marlene Obie