Last Saturday, I led a virtual Lent retreat day online. As I was preparing for it, I found myself writing down a lot of questions. (Some of them formed the shape of the retreat.) I thought I would share the questions today and invite you to ponder more deeply how we can survive more weeks of a pandemic when we’ve already endured a year.
- What does it mean to retreat when pandemic has already forced us into more isolation than we want?
- What does it mean to journey into the Lenten wilderness if we feel we’ve already been living there?
- What if our Lenten wilderness isn’t just about isolation and testing, but also about refilling our internal spiritual wells?
- What if Lent is about an explicit intention to turn toward God?
- What if, rather than giving up something for Lent, we take on something?
- What if what we take on is an intentional deepening of our relationship with God?
- What if we take on a new spiritual practice for connecting with God during Lent, or make a recommitment to a practice that’s been a blessing for us in the past?
During the retreat, I led participants in a variety of such spiritual practices. We reflected on scripture (appropriately, the story from Luke about Jesus’ time in the wilderness and how it launched his ministry). We did a creative stream-of-consciousness practice called Morning Pages. I then expanded upon it with more spiritual writing practices, such as journaling. We also did the Examen together, followed by spiritual awareness practices involving contemplative photography and art.
Last week I reflected on Ash Wednesday and how the pandemic led me to contemplate ashes from a spiritual perspective. As you enter Lent (and pass the one-year mark of living in a pandemic), how is God inviting you to refill your well? What spiritual practice are you being invited to embrace in this season?
Blessings and good morning Shirin. Shalom. Morning pages….I have, for many years, written two morning journals. One is similar in approach to “writing whatever comes into my mind, not over-thinking, just between me and God. The second is a psalm verse. At the beginning of my marriage to Nancy (it will be 41 years April 21) I was struggling. A good friend, David, suggested I read the psalms every day. Thus began a “Psalms Journal” where I write a verse, and then comment. 30+ years ago, I began with Psalm 1, verse 1, and have continued in this vein. I have completed two full trips through this awesome Book of Psalms, and this morning I was at Psalm 119:159a. It has taken me 10+ years to get through the entire Book. I began this 3rd “trip” 9/8/2008. God blesses me through these writings. I am blessed by your Monday postings. Thank you. Ray
Oh, Ray, thank you for sharing your two morning practices. I love them both, and especially resonate with your psalm practice, since I write what I call Psalm Flights (see https://shirinmcarthur.com/2016/10/09/introducing-psalm-flights/), which are poetry inspired by a verse from the Psalms. I haven’t written on every verse of every psalm though; I admire your dedication and am glad it’s been so meaningful for you! Thank you also for sharing that my posts are a blessing for you; I’m very glad. You’re welcome!
Peace,
Shirin