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
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The Future's So Bright...
Lenten Writing Prompt #17
Write about a time when light was significant to you, spiritually. Write about light.
I think of the seeds of light planted in our youth. VBS, Sunday School, Confirmation, May Youth Weekends to Holden Village....and then? The youth grow up and they go out into the world and they interact with others, they encourage, they volunteer, and they care.
I had the same experiences growing up in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in downtown Kirkland. My grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, siblings and parents too, all attended church together. We kids all attended Bible School, Sunday School and Confirmation.
I grew up and went out into the world but for a long time I did not go to church. I had a lot of questions about organized religion and I still do. Sometimes I don’t feel comfortable in a church setting. I realize though how important religious education is for children and youth. It sets a basis, a starting point, for a life of study, of always learning something new from the timeless stories and verses learned in childhood.
For that reason I particularly liked working with the Confirmation classes. This is such a time of questioning and of finding your own way. A time of learning new things and of learning to serve others. I still feel like a Confirmand myself in many ways. I am so sure of something one minute then completely unsure the next. I make mistakes and I make snap judgements. Sometimes I feel I have not advanced much past that adolescent stage, spiritually speaking. Sometimes I feel that I am still searching for that anchor, that certainty of heart.
However, I do believe in a bright future. The lights are being passed on from generation to generation. Each generation adds their own color to the light as they prepare to pass this new light on again. This light will be different, as ours was from the light we received, but it will come from the same source, the same thread, and the same beginning.
This past Christmas Eve, I was moved by the simple practice of lighting our individual candles. Although I’ve participated in this ritual most years of my life, there was a new significance. As is our custom the ushers come down the aisles holding lit candles, and the person in the first seat of each row tilts their candle to take the light upon their wick, then offers their light to the person beside them.
As this process was taking place, simultaneously in each row, a wave of comfort and bonding swept over me. We are lit by a light that we hold out to another, which they can take and offer, and the connection goes on. When we raise our lights in unison, we release light to fill the whole room. Although the candles are blown out after we sing Silent Night, our light is not. We carry it out from the church into the dark night, our homes, the world, the rest of our life. It is our mission to keep it glowing.
There are times I hoard my flame for my own illumination and warmth and there are times I make it accessible. I hold and wait and pray someone who may need it will take a flame. There are times I don’t guard against winds of the world that seek to extinguish it in a myriad of ways. I am thankful that relighting of numerous flames is possible.
May your lights from The Light incite and twirl you around and keep you connected and shining!
The Future So Bright.
ReplyDeleteI think of the seeds of light planted in our youth. VBS, Sunday School, Confirmation, May Youth Weekends to Holden Village....and then? The youth grow up and they go out into the world and they interact with others, they encourage, they volunteer, and they care.
I had the same experiences growing up in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in downtown Kirkland. My grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, siblings and parents too, all attended church together. We kids all attended Bible School, Sunday School and Confirmation.
I grew up and went out into the world but for a long time I did not go to church. I had a lot of questions about organized religion and I still do. Sometimes I don’t feel comfortable in a church setting. I realize though how important religious education is for children and youth. It sets a basis, a starting point, for a life of study, of always learning something new from the timeless stories and verses learned in childhood.
For that reason I particularly liked working with the Confirmation classes. This is such a time of questioning and of finding your own way. A time of learning new things and of learning to serve others. I still feel like a Confirmand myself in many ways. I am so sure of something one minute then completely unsure the next. I make mistakes and I make snap judgements. Sometimes I feel I have not advanced much past that adolescent stage, spiritually speaking. Sometimes I feel that I am still searching for that anchor, that certainty of heart.
However, I do believe in a bright future. The lights are being passed on from generation to generation. Each generation adds their own color to the light as they prepare to pass this new light on again. This light will be different, as ours was from the light we received, but it will come from the same source, the same thread, and the same beginning.
Pat Mason
LIGHT CONNECTIONS
ReplyDeleteBy Marlene Obie
This past Christmas Eve, I was moved by the simple practice of lighting our individual candles. Although I’ve participated in this ritual most years of my life, there was a new significance. As is our custom the ushers come down the aisles holding lit candles, and the person in the first seat of each row tilts their candle to take the light upon their wick, then offers their light to the person beside them.
As this process was taking place, simultaneously in each row, a wave of comfort and bonding swept over me. We are lit by a light that we hold out to another, which they can take and offer, and the connection goes on. When we raise our lights in unison, we release light to fill the whole room. Although the candles are blown out after we sing Silent Night, our light is not. We carry it out from the church into the dark night, our homes, the world, the rest of our life. It is our mission to keep it glowing.
There are times I hoard my flame for my own illumination and warmth and there are times I make it accessible. I hold and wait and pray someone who may need it will take a flame. There are times I don’t guard against winds of the world that seek to extinguish it in a myriad of ways.
I am thankful that relighting of numerous flames is possible.
May your lights from The Light incite and twirl you around and keep you connected and shining!
Published in SPIRIT TO SPIRIT IV