Space to write, space to create and space to let the spirit speak.
Write Now!
This blog started as a 'Lenten Writing Project', where we wrote each day in Lent. Now that Summer is here, let's keep up the discipline of writing with a weekly writing challenge! A prompt will be posted each week and anyone is welcome to join in and post their writing here or participate just by reading it.
Every writer has their own special light to add to this blog and all of your writing offerings are appreciated, whether poetry, prose, essay, thoughts, lists or comments and encouragement.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Lenten Writing Prompt #32
Do you practice fasting or 'giving up' something during Lent? Why or why not? What do you do with with the time or money you would have spent doing that thing?
Somehow as a child I got the idea that fasting or ‘giving up’ something during Lent was either not necessary or was superficial. Perhaps it goes back to my third-grade best friend Joanie, who was Catholic.
I remember the day she came to school and announced she was giving up cookies for Lent. I knew something of Lent, as my family had gone to church for the Ash Wednesday service the evening before. But I had heard nothing about ‘giving up’ something for Lent.
When I asked Mother about it that afternoon after school, she answered, “that is something Catholics do.” I already ‘knew’ that we didn’t do what Catholics did! In those days it seems we were taught that one did not date or marry a Catholic, and one had to be very cautious about being friends with a Catholic!
I have since learned to love and respect many Catholics and their devout Christian faith. And during Lent I set aside extra time to read Scripture or other Christian writings and to spend more time in prayer. This year I made the commitment to write on this blog each day.
I take various disciplines off and on. It helps me to stay more aware in life. Sometimes I use lent as another time to 'change things up' and become aware of things I have begun to take for granted.
This lent I gave up chocolate - done pretty well but it's been more annoying than I had hoped. Has helped me reflect on how the little things in my life are helpful - or not.
I've also tried to write most days - done pretty well
And I've committed to the gym or exercise 40 times in lent. I'm on track. 45 miles on the bike today - a good day to ride - rain tomorrow - back to the gym! I partly took on the exercise commitment because I knew this spring was going to be stressful on a number of fronts - I was right about the stress and the exercise helps. Also, sometimes when life seems to full I take on one more things by choice - it makes it harder to feel sorry for myself!!!
I've not been in the habit of giving something up for Lent. I hade the impression when I was younger it was a Catholic thing, although my friends and I at times as teens would say we were giving up something, we often failed at what it was. Usually it was a habit we thought we should stop, like swearing (although that was usually mild cussing for us).
I find now, for Lent and beyond, it's a matter of cleaning out those activities, possessions and habits that I've learned aren't genuinely important. I have written my own version of the Erma Bombeck letter that circulates, substituting I am and I will, instead of I would have. Prayer is one area that I am becoming. more disciplined about.
This blog has been a good displine for me, with something to think about through the day and putting it out there without worrying and taking a long time polish it.
One of our Lutheran Church’s practices is to ‘pack away’ our Alleluias during Lent. I had forgotten about that. There are rituals and services to symbolically do so and they are beautiful and meaningful. I love a good ritual. Especially ones out of the Green LBW. One day, as I arrived late for a Wednesday night service as usual, I stood on the other side of the glass doors during the congregation’s moment of silence and watched them. I also marveled. I love this congregation. Collectively and individually. Look at them. Silent in prayer – each with different stories, different challenges and strengths and each in different places in their lives. Every one of us is a broken saint, hungering for words that will fall upon the soil of our soul – regardless of the state of that soil. I’ve never seen such an inspired, commissioned congregation. Every one of us has a passionate role that we play - or are destined play - in our church or beyond. I was so moved by love for these people that - you know what? I Alleluia’d. It was a welcome rush. You see, I know all about Lent. I know it all year because I know depression. Not that the two are the same thing, but the practice of meditative self-reflection and metaphorically peeling off one’s skin to see what my bones are made of and then staring in horror when I realize that I am only made of a weak calcium deposit…I do that All. The. Time. It is exhausting. And depressing. It is also something that I simultaneously love and loathe about myself. It helps me write, but it also can be debilitating. I sometimes ride these waves depression bareback in a way that I would caution any of my loved ones against. And when I am moved to ‘Alleluia’, I grab onto it. Every Alleluia is precious. I will not pack mine away, because they tend to disintegrate into dust when depression comes on like a violent storm. ALLELUIA. I say it in defiance to all that would bar me from celebrating myself, my blessings, my life – that I know is a gift from God. ALLELUIA. It can’t wait until Easter.
I have not been brought up in a tradition that fasts during Lent. Besides, that is something that is very easy for me to do. Something more rigorous for me to do is taking care of myself in the way that God intended me to do.
So, during this year's Season of Lent, I am trying to take the time to change some of my more important habits; by being more intentional about improving my prayer scheduling, journaling, meal planning, movement or exercise, and socializing(especially at church). These are all ways which will help to honor this body I have, which is the temple that God has loaned to me. s.h.
by Pat Mason
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, my discipline for Lent has been to write each day on this blog.
Thank you to those who made this possible.
I have enjoyed the camaraderie.
Somehow as a child I got the idea that fasting or ‘giving up’ something during Lent was either not necessary or was superficial.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it goes back to my third-grade best friend Joanie, who was Catholic.
I remember the day she came to school and announced she was giving up cookies for Lent. I knew something of Lent, as my family had gone to church for the Ash Wednesday service the evening before. But I had heard nothing about ‘giving up’ something for Lent.
When I asked Mother about it that afternoon after school, she answered, “that is something Catholics do.” I already ‘knew’ that we didn’t do what Catholics did! In those days it seems we were taught that one did not date or marry a Catholic, and one had to be very cautious about being friends with a Catholic!
I have since learned to love and respect many Catholics and their devout Christian faith. And during Lent I set aside extra time to read Scripture or other Christian writings and to spend more time in prayer. This year I made the commitment to write on this blog each day.
I take various disciplines off and on. It helps me to stay more aware in life. Sometimes I use lent as another time to 'change things up' and become aware of things I have begun to take for granted.
ReplyDeleteThis lent I gave up chocolate - done pretty well but it's been more annoying than I had hoped. Has helped me reflect on how the little things in my life are helpful - or not.
I've also tried to write most days - done pretty well
And I've committed to the gym or exercise 40 times in lent. I'm on track. 45 miles on the bike today - a good day to ride - rain tomorrow - back to the gym! I partly took on the exercise commitment because I knew this spring was going to be stressful on a number of fronts - I was right about the stress and the exercise helps. Also, sometimes when life seems to full I take on one more things by choice - it makes it harder to feel sorry for myself!!!
Lenten Displines
ReplyDeleteby Marlene Obie
I've not been in the habit of giving something up for Lent. I hade the impression when I was younger it was a Catholic thing, although my friends and I at times as teens would say we were giving up something, we often failed at what it was. Usually it was a habit we thought we should stop, like swearing (although that was usually mild cussing for us).
I find now, for Lent and beyond, it's a matter of cleaning out those activities, possessions and habits that I've learned aren't genuinely important. I have written my own version of the Erma Bombeck letter that circulates, substituting I am and I will, instead of I would have. Prayer is one area that I am becoming. more disciplined about.
This blog has been a good displine for me, with something to think about through the day and putting it out there without worrying and taking a long time polish it.
Why I am not Packing Away my Alleluias for Lent
ReplyDeleteOne of our Lutheran Church’s practices is to ‘pack away’ our Alleluias during Lent. I had forgotten about that. There are rituals and services to symbolically do so and they are beautiful and meaningful. I love a good ritual. Especially ones out of the Green LBW. One day, as I arrived late for a Wednesday night service as usual, I stood on the other side of the glass doors during the congregation’s moment of silence and watched them. I also marveled. I love this congregation. Collectively and individually. Look at them. Silent in prayer – each with different stories, different challenges and strengths and each in different places in their lives. Every one of us is a broken saint, hungering for words that will fall upon the soil of our soul – regardless of the state of that soil. I’ve never seen such an inspired, commissioned congregation. Every one of us has a passionate role that we play - or are destined play - in our church or beyond. I was so moved by love for these people that - you know what? I Alleluia’d. It was a welcome rush. You see, I know all about Lent. I know it all year because I know depression. Not that the two are the same thing, but the practice of meditative self-reflection and metaphorically peeling off one’s skin to see what my bones are made of and then staring in horror when I realize that I am only made of a weak calcium deposit…I do that All. The. Time. It is exhausting. And depressing. It is also something that I simultaneously love and loathe about myself. It helps me write, but it also can be debilitating. I sometimes ride these waves depression bareback in a way that I would caution any of my loved ones against. And when I am moved to ‘Alleluia’, I grab onto it. Every Alleluia is precious. I will not pack mine away, because they tend to disintegrate into dust when depression comes on like a violent storm. ALLELUIA. I say it in defiance to all that would bar me from celebrating myself, my blessings, my life – that I know is a gift from God. ALLELUIA. It can’t wait until Easter.
Alleluia!! Amen!
DeleteMarlene
And I, for similar reasons, stand with you this Lent in Alleluia!!
Deletes.h.
Lenten Prompt #32 March 24 2012 Saturday
ReplyDeleteI have not been brought up in a tradition that fasts during Lent. Besides, that is something that is very easy for me to do. Something more rigorous for me to do is taking care of myself in the way that God intended me to do.
So, during this year's Season of Lent, I am trying to take the time to change some of my more important habits; by being more intentional about improving my prayer scheduling, journaling, meal planning, movement or exercise, and socializing(especially at church). These are all ways which will help to honor this body I have, which is the temple that God has loaned to me.
s.h.