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
Sunday, February 14, 2016
#5 God Is Among Us
Lenten Writing Prompt #5
Where did you see God today? Write details about your experience and what you saw.
Doug Millar The Hands of God This weekend I invited a family that we do astronomy projects with, over to our house to discuss our next events and plans. Besides the mom and dad there are 13 year old and 7 year old daughters. We do a lot of sitting around and talking, all six of us, and a lot of playing with the gadgets that are part of my hobbies. At a lull in planning, told the girls I needed to make a scientific measurement on something and they could help me. They were excited. We all went in the garage to my laboratory. They like to turn everything on to see the numbers and lights. I set up the measurement equipment, but they got to screw all the cables together. It took a little guidance, but soon they were changing connectors and setting things up like pros. I was amazed as I watched their process of learning and how they taught their fingers to do what they wanted. The measurement turned out better than I expected and I pronounced them excellent scientists and told them the measurement was a success. We went back to the kitchen to celebrate with cookies and soft drinks. In reflecting on the experience, I kept thinking about fingers, and how amazing it was to watch someone learn something new. As I thought about the complexity of the process of dexterity, I saw it as part of a much larger web of design and purpose. I was part of an imminent and continual expression of God. I am kenotic by nature and look for God in his creation. But rather than finding it in a great vista in a passive way, here it was in the activity of young fingers that were reaching out to learn something that had been passed on to me by others. God’s mind and expression are not only something we look at like a painting, or admire in church. It can be activity we share and become part of. If we were not gifted with understanding, then it might be said that we were only made for God’s enjoyment, even entertainment. But we are given understanding, and that binds us both with the creation and the creator in a process that extends through time.
I remember how fun it was (and is for my girls) to flip switches and turn knobs. My specialty was getting it to spin through all the stations in 10 seconds ; )
Doug Millar
ReplyDeleteThe Hands of God
This weekend I invited a family that we do astronomy projects with, over to our house to discuss our next events and plans. Besides the mom and dad there are 13 year old and 7 year old daughters. We do a lot of sitting around and talking, all six of us, and a lot of playing with the gadgets that are part of my hobbies. At a lull in planning, told the girls I needed to make a scientific measurement on something and they could help me. They were excited. We all went in the garage to my laboratory. They like to turn everything on to see the numbers and lights. I set up the measurement equipment, but they got to screw all the cables together. It took a little guidance, but soon they were changing connectors and setting things up like pros. I was amazed as I watched their process of learning and how they taught their fingers to do what they wanted. The measurement turned out better than I expected and I pronounced them excellent scientists and told them the measurement was a success. We went back to the kitchen to celebrate with cookies and soft drinks.
In reflecting on the experience, I kept thinking about fingers, and how amazing it was to watch someone learn something new. As I thought about the complexity of the process of dexterity, I saw it as part of a much larger web of design and purpose. I was part of an imminent and continual expression of God. I am kenotic by nature and look for God in his creation. But rather than finding it in a great vista in a passive way, here it was in the activity of young fingers that were reaching out to learn something that had been passed on to me by others. God’s mind and expression are not only something we look at like a painting, or admire in church. It can be activity we share and become part of. If we were not gifted with understanding, then it might be said that we were only made for God’s enjoyment, even entertainment. But we are given understanding, and that binds us both with the creation and the creator in a process that extends through time.
I remember how fun it was (and is for my girls) to flip switches and turn knobs. My specialty was getting it to spin through all the stations in 10 seconds ; )
ReplyDeleteIt made me happy to share it with you, no matter the level. <3
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