Lenten Practices
As our interim rector, Chris Thompson, mentioned in his Ash Wednesday homily, Lent is a penitent season and one way we acknowledge this in our lives is by stopping, or adding, certain practices. Some people stop eating a favorite food or drinking a favorite drink; others add a prayerful practice or reconnect with something they sense has become lost in their lives. And while Lent has begun, it isn’t too late to begin an intentional practice!
We asked some Saints of John to tell us, in a sentence or two, about their practices and intentions. Some are very specific, others less so. Here are their anonymous responses:
Pay closer attention to my children and grandchildren, to discover more about who they have become and how to support them.
To sit quietly, patiently listening, in order for my mind to rest and rejuvenate.
Set a time aside daily to read “Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life” by Richard Rohr.
My Lenten practice is to include the Wednesday Eucharist in my schedule and to read about the lives of the saints, some of whom are remembered there.
Rediscover playfulness and joy using an Artist's Way (Julia Cameron) technique called a Play Date, where play is entered into spiritually and intentionally.
Because life is full, I looked for a way to deepen my spiritual practice without taking on too much. To my usual prayer in the morning, I plan to read a short quote or poem before praying to listen for a word or theme that sparks my attention, to be attentive to whether that theme is present in my prayer time, and to follow by writing down a brief intention for the day, such as "Feast on patience; fast from bitterness."
Regain the ability to maintain my focus on reading books and resolving issues.
I would like to lighten myself of the burden of "someday". I feel oppressed by all the half-finished, or barely begun, projects that fill my space, so I want to pare down those piles and consider what I can realistically expect to finish. I also want to learn to use my new camera during this time, rather than putting it off until I have the time "someday".
To pray daily and make at least one visit, weekly, to my home-bound friend.
I'm praying God will give me more compassion and a softer heart for the homeless and poor among us. I will be reading books on poverty during the next 40 days.
