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
Tongues and Friends
ReplyDeleteI was a young man
late in high school
when a friend invited me to a prayer meeting
where people might speak in tongues.
She was cute
and I was curious
and the meeting was up near Chicago.
Why yes, I’d love to go!
We went with her older brother and her parents.
It was a large room
and thirty of us sat in circle
and sure enough
soon after the prayers began
someone began to speak in words I had never heard.
No one was afraid
because… I suppose… we were praying.
Part of it was interpreted
by another pray-er.
Some of it was just a prayer.
Then we sang some songs and it was over.
She asked me afterwards what I thought.
I didn’t know – so that’s what I told her,
and I told her I was glad I came – because I was.
I respected the gift though it wasn’t mine.
I honored the pray-er – although my gifts were different.
I honored my curiosity – its own gift of wonder.
And I have been a friend to many people
with a variety of gifts
for many delightful years.
"May I speak to the woman of the house?" I was 12 or 13 but knew the telemarketer was asking for me. I lived with two or three or four of my brothers and my dad in the castoff parsonage of a church. It was rent free for the willingness to keep one bedroom free for the money counters on Sunday, the living room for the nursery, and the basement available for the scouts during the week. One of those years the high school dropped off the thanksgiving basket of food at our house. My dad would bring home bums who had no place to sleep, just to keep us mindful. The parochial school I attended was on the other side of the church, leaving me too visible for a shy pubescent kid. Pity was something I anticipated, so I denied most people entry into my life.
ReplyDeleteAt night in the quiet and solitary darkness of my room I would crawl into the lap of God, weep, and find peace.
Oh Gloria! Sorry sad and so very full. Thank you for sharing - I am so moved. Thank you!
DeleteIt's hard to pick one as there have been many times I have sensed clear answers,
ReplyDeleteand there are times, no matter how earnestly I pray, I don't.
I was going up for Communion one Good Friday after silently praying,
"I can't go on like this, Lord, I just can't" and heard within me "You don't have to--alone."' and others when I quit frantically trying to find "solutions" to fix the breaks in threads of my life and said, "I can't handle this, I just can't. I don't know what to do." And in awhile, something shifts, changes or I get an idea of where to look, and suddenly, there's a resource in front of me I hadn't seen or considered."
And often I find when something is coming at me, it's up to me to hit it, duck, walk away, or stand and take it; but I know there's someone with me.
There was a time when I'd been praying that I could connect with my brother whom I hadn't heard from for several years and it wasn't happening. Then I thought about some of my motivation and prayed, "I'd just like to know if he's all right." Shortly thereafter, I got a phone call at 6:00 a.m. and when I answered a woman asked my name and told me she just wanted me to know my brother was all right." I almost dropped the phone.
My Mother lies on the hospital bed
ReplyDeletetossing in the dark
moaning and crying softly, in pain
neither awake, nor asleep
begging for relief
There is little I can do for her
except listen
adjust her blankets
and pray
My Mother is 84 years old
She has painful pancreatitis
and advanced osteoarthritis
every bone creaks
every vein is tender
her skin is paper thin
She calls for her Mother in her sleepless sleep
I sing "Silent Night" to her
and she calms, momentarily
I have never prayed so hard in my life
This is all new for me
and very frightening
Then, I begin to feel the prayers
of all the people who know her and love her
My Father, my Sisters, my Daughters
It grows and lifts me
I feel the Aunts and Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends
Finally, I can feel the prayers of the many Church Prayer Chains I know she is on, by now
It feels like a large, invisible choral symphony,
swelling and growing, all around me
accompanied by a crowd of angels
supporting me gently through all this
I keep vigil by her hospital bed for 9 days
only leaving for a few hours each day
I truly believe I was able to do this
because of the prayer support I received
After 9 days of intense hospitalization,
God answers our prayers
She is transfered to a smaller hospital
for 4 more days of IV treatment, then sent home
This time, she will be OK
Thank you God!
And thank you Prayer Warriors!
fHs
Sara