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, April 11, 2014
Wilderness
Have you ever witnessed evil? How did you deal
with it?
Evil can come as a surprise. It can come out of trusting and connecting oneself deeply to another, only to have it reveal itself as destruction and horror. Its touch can linger even after you have escaped from its immediacy. You can go on with your life but it is like living in a wilderness, day after day. You feel diminished, soiled, thirsty, hungry for the sight and taste of healing. You can feel as if you have done something to deserve this. As if it was all your fault that you and others have been made to suffer. This is the purpose of evil. To hold you captive in its grasp and never let you go. At some point you will have reached the end of your tether, desperate to find a release from the torture. When you go for help you learn the answer. The only way to free yourself of this torment is to forgive the bringer of evil. You may believe that forgiveness means that you accept the burden and set your tormentor free. You may decide to accept even this, if it will bring you some peace. I learned something very different. In the moment of forgiveness you find it is you, yourself, whom God has set free. You have released the condemnation and thus the pain. You can turn it over to God where it belongs. The Evil One is still under the rule of God. God makes the decision. You are free as you have not felt in some time. After that, after you know that forgiveness is for you, even more than the other. You are out of the wilderness. Green things grow around you and the sun is a blessing again. Nothing can bring you closer to God, nor make your life more meaningful than to forgive. If I have mission today it is to help others understand what forgiveness is really about. Clarene Aitken 13.4.14
Wilderness
ReplyDeleteEvil can come as a surprise. It can come out of trusting and connecting oneself deeply to another,
only to have it reveal itself as destruction and horror. Its touch can linger even after you have escaped from its immediacy. You can go on with your life but it is like living in a wilderness, day after day. You feel diminished, soiled, thirsty, hungry for the sight and taste of healing. You can feel as if you have done something to deserve this. As if it was all your fault that you and others have been made to suffer.
This is the purpose of evil. To hold you captive in its grasp and never let you go. At some point
you will have reached the end of your tether, desperate to find a release from the torture.
When you go for help you learn the answer. The only way to free yourself of this torment is to forgive the bringer of evil. You may believe that forgiveness means that you accept the burden and set your tormentor free. You may decide to accept even this, if it will bring you some peace.
I learned something very different.
In the moment of forgiveness you find it is you, yourself, whom God has set free. You have released the condemnation and thus the pain. You can turn it over to God where it belongs. The Evil One is still under the rule of God. God makes the decision. You are free as you have not felt in some time. After that, after you know that forgiveness is for you, even more than the other. You are out of the wilderness.
Green things grow around you and the sun is a blessing again.
Nothing can bring you closer to God, nor make your life more meaningful than to forgive. If I have mission today it is to help others understand what forgiveness is really about.
Clarene Aitken
13.4.14
Clarene;
DeleteYou make a powerful witness to the wisdom of forgiveness. Thanks.
ronaldo