Spirit to Spirit Writing Project
The word Lent comes 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
The Question
ReplyDeleteI left a budding career
to start what I hoped was a new one.
My wife and I loaded up the U-haul
and we moved fifteen hundred miles
so I could attend the seminary
and become a pastor.
The study intimidated me.
I wanted to get it right,
do it well
and I needed, in the end,
to support my family.
On some level
I was scared to death
“What if I couldn't do it?”
And then there was “the question”.
The question
that took me months to fess up to.
The question
I didn't have the nerve to ask
until thirteen months in,
when the pull of my longing
and my trust in one professor
finally came together.
That is when I found myself
knocking on his office door.
After I sat down, I said
“I know that prayer is important.
My mom and the my grandfather
are big pray-ers.
But honestly,
most prayers are just flat for me.
I want more.”
There it was,
on the table,
my fear of admitting,
my shame of not knowing, yet.
Then I looked up and asked
“Can you help me?”
He sat up straight, paused to honor the question, smiled,
and started me on a path
that changed my life.
What a pivotal moment!
Deleteprayer opens, closes, clarifies, changes life,
Deletethanks Larry.
What is prayer, if not this grace filled wrestling in communion with my sisters?
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteIf I am any example, I think that prayer is one aspect of our lives that has the greatest possibility of being a slippery slope, focused on our own need mistakenly tied up with how we imagine God’s involvement in our lives. Rather than God our Creator, I am praying to God the magic genie or the Santa Claus or the Giant Chess Player in the sky. I’ve prayed my share of beggy, bargaining, and blaming prayers. And I trust that God has received them all.
ReplyDeleteSome days my prayers come easily and almost, it seems, without thinking, which is probably the key to this whole business. On the other end of the spectrum are the days I am so ticked off at the state of the world and God’s apparent oblivion to it all that I don’t pray at all, like some sort of spiteful hand gesture in God’s general direction. But most days my prayers are pieced together throughout the day, full of whatever I am most filled with – fear and longing and joy and amazement and fear (I know) and hurt and disappointment and wonderment and well, probably a little more fear.
There are folks who are much wiser than I whose words on this subject offer some guidance to me in my prayer life. I’m happy to share:
“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
― Meister Eckhart
“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I'd look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Julie G. Hutson
"The giant chess player in the sky", yes, I do feel like that sometimes. It's hard to sort out something so simple yet still such a mystery : ) Love your quotes!
Deleteheart and spirit opening up to the Source.
DeleteI like Eckharts simplicity.
DeletePrayer Practice
ReplyDeleteMatthew 6
Earliest years found me following my parents lead.
“Get quiet, be sincere, just tell God what you need.”
Meals always included “Grace”; Bedtime brought petitions.
“God bless Daddy, Mommy, Johnnie…” Familiar renditions;
Second decade started seriously with confirmation studies.
Luther’s Small Catechism memorized alongside two buddies.
Daily devotions became a regular part of my routine.
Weekly worship, Luther League meetings, a prayerful teen;
University life, followed by seminary studies, my third lap of life.
Adventures in faith: Listening Witness, Tower Chapel speaker, found a wife.
Prayer like baptism seems to have been integrated, warp and woof,
Holy One, Creator, Word Made Flesh, Breath of Life under one roof;
Parish ministry consumed my fourth lap/decade, prayers public, private.
Teaching confirmation, leading worship, classes on Psalms widened prayer’s net.
CPE training heightened my reliance upon prayer’s resourceful use.
Pastoral Counseling instruction assisted my inner examination, be clear not obtuse.
Hospital/industrial chaplaincy, counseling work filled my fifth decade, another lap done.
Daily interactions included prayer shawls, deeply personal petitions, even fun.
Biblical study, occasional sermon preparation brought quiet prayerful times.
More and more, prayer would find its place ‘mongst my poetic rhymes.
As I conclude my sixth lap, prayer grows more real, more personal.
Not a part of the day passes without prayer arrows from my arsenal.
Each waking devotion includes long lists of individuals, families, friends.
Pauses during the day allow my love and light to negotiate faith’s trends.
Silence, contemplative quiet, resigned ego placed in Holy One’s care.
Artesian Fount of God flows through my life, does what I won’t dare.
Word Made Flesh wraps strong arms around my aging flesh, brings grace.
Keeper of All supplies resource needed as I turn into the next lap of this race.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
21.2.15
What a lovely journey through the laps of your life...
DeleteInnocent
ReplyDeleteNow I lay me down to sleep...
God bless mommy and daddy.
Obedient
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Our Father, who art in heaven...
Enthusiastic
Oh, the Lord is good to me...
Complaining
Oh my God, she is so mean!
Selfish
Can you please help me do well on this test?
Earnest
Help me make the right choice. I want to do what's right in your eyes.
Desperate
Where are you?!
Stay with me.
Pleading
Forgive me!
Silent
The Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words to express.
Grateful
Thank God!
Laughter,
Tears,
With each breath.
Amen.
How wonderful! the growth the maturity the emotion the peace. BEautiful!
Delete"Now I lay me down to sleep, If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. (pause) Mom, am I going to die tonight?" This is the prayer I learned as a child before I fell asleep. Who thought up this common prayer for children - really? You can bet my sons did not learn that one. I know my mom was trying her best at the time, but I can say it was scary for me. It was the same every night - no free praying about how my day had gone, praying for someone else, thanking or praise. Today I pray in many ways sometimes even in wonderful silence. God today seems personal, close and loving even in the worst of times when I cling to God. Some day I will die and I will go with the friend who loves me and knows me best. Deb Bengtson-Ahrendt
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, I saw prayer as a list of things that I was thankful, and then a list of things to ask for. I also remember sometimes asking to speak to Great Grandma Ruth or Great Aunt Ellen while I was praying to you, like I was on a telephone or something. I remember feeling you laugh one night, when I was a kid and I said something funny – a joke. It wasn’t a laugh I could hear, but sort of a chuckle that I could feel. I felt very close to you. However, I did and still do always lead off like a letter: Dear LORD…and then say what I have to say.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with prayer though when I had my first baby. I was so anxious because I had Post-partum Mood Disorder. All of a sudden prayer wasn’t enough. Before I had a baby, if things didn’t come out like I asked in my prayer-letter to you, I was sort of ok with it – life would go on. But once I had another life to take care of… things had to turn out right. I felt like praying was the equivalent of leaving my baby’s wellbeing to some invisible genie that may or may not grant my plea. Then, when my daughter got sick with the usual childhood stuff, I’d be praying to you anyway, not feeling like I had any other choice. My attitude about motherhood was: “I’ll handle it myself and I will never let this baby out of my arms and I will make her be ok”. I was terrified. Not only was I completely anxious as a mother, but my faith was changing. I felt very far away from you . I felt like you might take her away from me because I wasn’t good enough. Sounds irrational and silly now, and it was definitely not part of my theology. I was sitting there in the dark with a 2am feeding, feeling so sorry for my baby having me for a mother and trapped, because there was nothing I could do about it.
Community of other moms in a moms group really helped me through that time, but I never realized I had PMD and I presented a happy, though neurotic front to everyone that seemed functional enough.
Somewhere between my second child and getting some therapy to help with my second-time-around PMD, my understanding of prayer changed again. I read somewhere that prayer doesn’t necessarily change the outcome, but it changes the one who prays. I liked that because made me feel like I had a little agency in situations. It’s still not quite enough of course. I still feel the bravado of “I’ll handle it myself” with my kids and praying for them. I have to actively remember to include them in my prayers because of this wish that I could control things myself while also knowing somewhere that I am totally deluded on that part. Still, I can do the work I know how to do to take care of my kids, and also pray for them. I still get to do the work, but praying for them makes me think outside of myself and see them as separate people from me. Sounds crazy, but it’s hard for me to do sometimes, yet it’s what they need to develop into their own human beings and be happy. In the words of Elsa from Frozen, “let it go”. Even if it’s the most important thing you’ve ever known.
Deep down, I know that you understand, God. You are with me when I am searching in the darkness for some light. You even know the darkness. You are there, holding my hand, whispering an internal lullaby to calm me that I don't even know that I can hear, but it's there. It's your promise that you will never leave me and my soul, the part of me that will return one day to you, can hear it.
guess it didn't take the first time
Deletelove the "whispering an internall lullaby to calm me that I don't know that I can hear, but it's there.
yeh!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA Smidgen of My Prayer Evolution
ReplyDeleteNow I lay me down to sleep…….
God Bless Mommy, Daddy, Jerry, …..
God Bless Everybody
God Bless Everybody, except………..
Our Father who art in heaven……..
Thank you for the food we eat……
Please God let this happen.
Make my brother well.
Help my Dad
Do you really love me God?
And you won’t go away?
Why did this happen God?
Why did my friend die at 15?
I’m sorry God, I…….
Father, in heaven,
Help me be good, do better…..
What’s matter with them, Lord?
Why don’t they…….
Tell me, tell me Lord Jesus. What shall I do?
How can I please everybody?
I believe in the Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost
I need answers, direction, a sign. Should I marry this guy?
Thank you, Lord, for these three healthy beautiful children,
And I don’t need to be blessed with more. They are enough.
Help me to be a good mother, to let them know I will always love them,
And that you will always love them too.
I am trying to trust, to leave it to you, that all will be well,
but we really need some guidance here.
Now they are teens, and I lay awake and worry and pray,
listening for the car in the driveway
Keep them safe, Lord, and from doing anything stupid
What should I do Lord? How can I help?
We’re struggling a lot here God. I don’t doubt your love,
but I’m feeling I can’t handle it all. Really!!
Did I really hear you, or was I hallucinating?
Going up for Communion on that Good Friday,
I heard, “You don’t have to, alone.”
I often can’t find the right words, Lord,
But I know you hear the unspoken.
Thank you for my children, grandchildren,
and all the rest of my family and friends.
May they forgive all my mess ups and control issues
And know how I love them, always and forever.
There are too many years and instances to cover here.
A lot of good and a lot of slogging through gumbo
and quicksand of life.
I don’t expect God to wave a magic wand.
I pray to know the Presence, still seeking guidance,
understanding and direction, and I ask God for
that for others—for reason, love and for
the real Kingdom of God to grow and bear fruit.
I find the Spirit every day in the beauty of the earth
and more people in my life than I can count,
who, whether they believe or know it or not,
touch me with the answers—
they laugh, cry, encourage, support and walk with me.
In the words of Anne LaMott, “Help, Thanks, Wow”
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAck! How did I get in twice?
DeletePrayer Progression
ReplyDeleteNow I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord My soul to keep
Are you there Lord?
Are you real?
Why do you allow all the horrors
and wars
and famines
into the World?
Maybe You're not so powerful after all
But, I can't live without You, O God
I've heard that's what is called
a Leap of Faith
So, I'll take it
You are with me, O God
when I fall in love
I see You
in the eyes of my newborn babies
You help me grow my children
You are here when tragedy strikes
and later, when my marriage fails
During all of my life disasters and wonders
You are always there
For this I give You thanks and Praise
I feel Your Presence
in the eyes and arms
of Family and Friends
Hear You in Prayer and Song
See You in Words I read in Your Book
Experience You through the Wonders of the Natural World around me
After 65 years, God,
You'd think I'd remember
You often come when I least expect You
in what I call "God Moments"
when I am simply going about my life
living it the best way I can
in Faith
hoping and praying some days
that You are there
and hear me
but knowing, also, that I'm only one tiny speck of life
among many billions of others
-- when --
WHAM!!
I'm up front and personal with God, again!
I feel SEEN!
It's very humbling
And also energizing!
It certainly gives me
a lot of focus and energy for God
that lasts for quite a while
Just when I needed a boost, too!
Thanks again, God!
We do have an amazing relationship!
Please help me stay connected
so I can serve You better
fHs
Sara