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
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Maunday Thursday
Have you washed anyone’s feet or had your feed
washed at a Maunday Thursday service or any other time? Have you ever participated in an act of service that was equal to this? Write about your experience.
An Unexpected Gift When I was in fourth or fifth grade in Sunday school we had Mrs Claus as a Sunday school teacher. There were about 20 kids in the class and I remember sitting in a large circle in a small class room.
She was likely in her 70's at that point. She was widowed and worked part time at the hardware store. In the years to come I would see her often when I went in to look at tennis racquets. I remember that she always had lots of energy.
I also remember that one of the ways that she taught us was a contest to see who could find the most parable of Jesus. She gave us two weeks and I didn't really know how to begin so I didn't. I wasn't really even in the contest.
At the end of the year she asked me to stay for a minute. I didn't know why but said sure. She pulled out a gift. It was obviously a book that she had gift wrapped. As she gave it to me she thanked me for keeping Steve (a class mate) in line. I was totally surprised and grateful. The book was book of poems by Helen Steiner Rice. I was very grateful that she noticed me, I was moved by that. I tried reading the poems but didn't get far - it's too bad. Perhaps she saw more in me than I knew!
There is a powerful service that teachers do for young students when they communicate to them that they are seen! Pastor Larry
Several days ago I was going back into the apartment complex after walking my little Chihuahua, Honey. She is so unlike a Chihuahua in so many ways. She thinks she is the official greeter at Casa Madrona and goes up to everyone to say hello. She is even that way about other dogs, so I have to be careful because not all dogs are as eager to meet as she is. We were passing the reception area to the office and I could not see that someone was seated on the other side of the partition, but Honey knew. She ran ahead around the corner bent on greeting whoever it was. I heard her whine and felt tugging on the leash. I hurried to see what had gone wrong and found that another larger dog had her down and was maliciously mauling her. It was not on a leash. The dog's owner was just standing there looking. I didn't hesitate. My foot went back as far as it could go and delivered a kick that sent the other dog flying and yelping, but Honey was free. I bent and picked her up. The man who owned the other dog said "Don't kick my dog!" I replied "you are supposed to keep him on a leash!" He held up an empty leash and said "He WAS on a leash." The dog had slipped its leash to attack Honey. I went on into the office where the event caught up with me. I began to cry. "I have never kicked another dog! I have never kicked another dog." I examined Honey. She had some marks on her stomach and she limped on a hind leg for a few days but was otherwise okay. Maundy Thursday arrived and reminded me that Christ had humbled himself to wash the feet of the disciples, teaching them that they were to be of service to others. I thought of my unruly foot that had so deliberately delivered a kick to free my pet. I felt a connection, but couldn't define it. A friend reminded me that after the foot washing Peter had drawn his sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers when they arrested Jesus. There it was! The connection was to Peter. All of a sudden I could understand the impulse that had driven him to draw his sword. I could slip inside his head and know what had gone through his mind. I felt so close to him, so in the moment. And suddenly so free! By the way my friend added that he knows me to be a fine upstanding woman but he wouldn't want to get between me and my cubs! Clarene Aitken
An Unexpected Gift
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in fourth or fifth grade in Sunday school we had Mrs Claus as a Sunday school teacher. There were about 20 kids in the class and I remember sitting in a large circle in a small class room.
She was likely in her 70's at that point. She was widowed and worked part time at the hardware store. In the years to come I would see her often when I went in to look at tennis racquets.
I remember that she always had lots of energy.
I also remember that one of the ways that she taught us was a contest to see who could find the most parable of Jesus. She gave us two weeks and I didn't really know how to begin so I didn't. I wasn't really even in the contest.
At the end of the year she asked me to stay for a minute. I didn't know why but said sure. She pulled out a gift. It was obviously a book that she had gift wrapped. As she gave it to me she thanked me for keeping Steve (a class mate) in line. I was totally surprised and grateful. The book was book of poems by Helen Steiner Rice. I was very grateful that she noticed me, I was moved by that. I tried reading the poems but didn't get far - it's too bad. Perhaps she saw more in me than I knew!
There is a powerful service that teachers do for young students when they communicate to them that they are seen! Pastor Larry
Maundy Thursday: Another Point of View
ReplyDeleteSeveral days ago I was going back into the apartment complex after walking my little Chihuahua,
Honey. She is so unlike a Chihuahua in so many ways. She thinks she is the official greeter at Casa Madrona and goes up to everyone to say hello. She is even that way about other dogs, so I have to be careful because not all dogs are as eager to meet as she is.
We were passing the reception area to the office and I could not see that someone was seated
on the other side of the partition, but Honey knew. She ran ahead around the corner bent on
greeting whoever it was. I heard her whine and felt tugging on the leash. I hurried to see what had
gone wrong and found that another larger dog had her down and was maliciously mauling her. It was
not on a leash. The dog's owner was just standing there looking. I didn't hesitate. My foot went
back as far as it could go and delivered a kick that sent the other dog flying and yelping, but Honey
was free.
I bent and picked her up. The man who owned the other dog said "Don't kick my dog!" I replied
"you are supposed to keep him on a leash!" He held up an empty leash and said "He WAS on a leash."
The dog had slipped its leash to attack Honey.
I went on into the office where the event caught up with me. I began to cry. "I have never kicked
another dog! I have never kicked another dog." I examined Honey. She had some marks on her
stomach and she limped on a hind leg for a few days but was otherwise okay.
Maundy Thursday arrived and reminded me that Christ had humbled himself to wash the feet of
the disciples, teaching them that they were to be of service to others. I thought of my unruly foot that had so deliberately delivered a kick to free my pet. I felt a connection, but couldn't define it. A friend reminded me that after the foot washing Peter had drawn his sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers when they arrested Jesus.
There it was! The connection was to Peter. All of a sudden I could understand the impulse that
had driven him to draw his sword. I could slip inside his head and know what had gone through his
mind. I felt so close to him, so in the moment. And suddenly so free!
By the way my friend added that he knows me to be a fine upstanding woman but he wouldn't want
to get between me and my cubs!
Clarene Aitken