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
Time Shifter
ReplyDeleteDoug Millar
It is not common, but last weekend I got to be in three time eras at the same time. I was in the past, present and future at the same time. It was wonderful. It is often too easy for an older person to dwell on past memories or past activities. Goodness knows rebuilding classical radios and using them to talk to other “greybeards” pushes me into the past pretty strongly. However, I decided long ago that I could end up isolated and irrelevant as I got older if I followed the usual path that aging brings to most people. My choice has been to invest myself in activities and work on friendships with younger people. As a result, I commonly pal around with older, middle age and younger people. I am constantly surprised at how refreshed my friendships make me feel and how happy I feel to be with them.
The events of last weekend are they type where I feel the best. I had been asked to go along on a Jr High outing to the local maritime museum and on a tour of the Battleship Iowa. I was going to share the time with 60- 5th to 7th graders and their parents. I only know a few of them. I know lots of people who would rather voluntarily drink strychnine and set their fortune on fire while doing it, than suffer even an hour or two with that age group. Not me, I find them interesting and exciting to be with. We were at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum early in the day. I have been there many times and know the exhibits and its history well. However, this time I was there with 11 year olds who expressed an infinite curiosity. I was surprised and delighted at what fascinated them. There was a board with ropes attached to it and instructions on how to tie knots. I showed them that a bowline was an easy and useful knot to tie. We all made the “snake go around the tree and back down the hole” till they got it. They were excited and exuberant participants. We went from exhibit to exhibit that fascinated them. I was happy to be with them and captured by what they thought was interesting. In return they were excitedly including me in their new discoveries and constant with questions. I was seeing the museum through new eyes and with new enthusiasm. I found myself constantly slipping between the past experiences I had had there, the present excitement and an excitement for the future the kids would venture off into, and which of which I would have been a part. I felt alive and very happy to be in the present.
Very neat!
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