LOOKING TO LENT ...considering the soil

I'm going to do something a little scandalous today - repeat myself.  Because it just seems to fit.  And, because otherwise I am not getting to this important blog enough....today I wrote the following reflection for the student group I blog for.   Just nine days till Ash Wednesday!.....

It is early this year, Lent.    The joys and smells of Christmas still linger.   Hard to imagine that next week, we will enter the desert with Jesus.  

Before we cross the threshold into Lent, I want to let you in on a day celebrated last weekend.  Not really Ground Hog Day, though I understand this day is at the root of whywe "celebrate" with Phil.  

Imbolc or St. Brighid's Day is a Celtic feast that is crossquarter day, meaning it is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The sun marks the four Quarter Days of the year (the Solstices and Equinoxes) and the midpoints are the cross-quarter days. As the days slowly lengthen in the northern hemisphere and the sun makes her way higher in the sky, the ground beneath our feet begins to thaw. The earth softens and the seeds deep below stir in the darkness. The word "imbolc" means "in the belly." The earth's belly is beginning to awaken, new life is stirring, seeds are sprouting forth.  In many places the ground is still frozen or covered with snow, but the call now is tend to those very first signs of movement beneath the fertile ground. 

I celebrated Imbolc this year without even knowing I was doing it. I'm not surprised, though, as it just felt like what I was meant to do.  Sitting on my couch in front of the fire, watching the snow slowly dancing downward out the window, I poured over my seed catalogues.  Lovely.  All of those beautiful flowers and vegies - full of potential and waiting sprout, pushing upwards on the earth, emerging in full beauty and purpose into the world.   Perfect.

Maybe you've noticed some of the urges towards greening in your own soul.  The seasons are changing as we move towards spring. Are you aware yet of the seeds that will be planted in your soul this Lenten season.  Here is something I know, as a gardener:  seeds have to be (sit) in the darkness of underground before they emerge to be a full-on plant.  That darkness may be like Jesus' time in the desert.  I don't want to get ahead of ourselves - more on the fast/practices (seeds) soon.  For now....think about the ground on which you will plant the seed.  In my own garden, I add compost to the soil, plant cover crops over winter, and even adhere to the idea that you shouldn't till (turn it over, exposing the layers of healthy soil that are building).  In my own spiritual life, I need to care for my soil by adding to it with reflection, prayer and spiritual friendships.  I suppose the no-till could be compared to the need I have to be in solitude and quiet, sitting thought (prayer)-fully with what is germinating.

In that deep, moist, fertile earth, something will take root.   How are you preparing the soil of your soul?

A new book title caught my attention this morning as it came in an email, 
Heaven on Earth - Realizing the Good Life Now.
I'm not going to get the book, but I did check out a review of it and discovered that it is an exploration of the Beatitudes.   It is a book intended to help us see what God is doing here and now, in the (God's) world.  
Heaven on Earth.   The Good Life.

These concepts can be simpler than our culture has made them out to be.   

I was reminded of this last night while my daughter, Lydia and I roamed through the grocery store making sure we got all we "needed."   In the magazine aisle, we stopped and let ourselves browse for a few moments, pointing out different front covers and article titles to one another.   I almost purchased one about dressing up vintage things to decorate your home.  It was colorful and fun.   Something held me back from taking it with me.   It's not that having magazines is necessarily bad. Some are creative and have thoughtful articles, even encourage responsible living.   But, I am often struck when I read a magazine by the ways that I can feel the need to purchase, change, even feel badly about what I have.  There are pitifully few magazines out there (and absolutely no store flyers or catalogues) that say, "enjoy what you have," "celebrate the goodness that is in your life currently."   Most of it is designed to discourage us from feeling that way.  That is how we are encouraged to spend more money and time on the stuff of their selling.

Is that how I want to spend my time and my money?  Or would it be better spent intentionally on others and on building up the Kingdom.  How are my resources working towards "heaven on earth?"

So, instead of buying the book I mention above (because, really, even spiritually nurturing books want us to change and spend - even there, we need to be discerning), I decided to open the book they were pointing towards.  I have that one.  The Bible.   And, it points to God.  Hmmm.

Isn't that a good way to discern what is best to purchase and work towards:     Is it helping me point towards God in my living?  

So, check this out with me:

⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought."  (Matt 5:5 in The Message version of Scripture)

As we begin this new year, I am going to spend some time each month with these teachings of Jesus, the Beatitudes.  They are all applicable to helping me understand how to live a simpler life.....how to be about heaven on earth.  
Isn't it great how interconnected those two are?

Do you have a plan in this new year to hear God encouraging you and helping you discern a lifestyle that is hopeful and helpful, that is abundant?  Truly abundant.

Advent's Illuminating Thoughts

Welcome Advent!

It's a wonderful time of year.   Our holidays officially began, as Christians, with the lighting of the first Advent candle last Sunday.  Lighting the candles in church is such a beautiful tradition during a busy and dark season.  

On my walk this morning, I was stuck by how dark it was at 7am.  My dogs don't know the difference.  Well fed, they're ready to go out.  So into the darkness we tromped.  As our dogs tumbled with one another, a neighbor and I griped about the fact that we still have 11 days of this impending darkness, days shortening.
Which is one of the reasons we love the lighting of candles.  It is good to remember the light and to fill our homes, our church, our lives with the light.  It makes me wonder....

How am I bringing light into the darkness  on these days of Advent?  

A blog I've been paying attention to recently, The Tangled Nest, offers some nice, and very simple, ideas for how she "keeps the peace of the season."   Keeping the peace.  Shining the light.  Hoping for God with us.  What a gift this Advent season is.  We can still do the fun (and sometimes "busy") things we find special and meaningful in this holiday season.   Yes.  And, we can do them well, as we take the time also to kindle the true Light and the real Peace of our Advent days.  

Before ending our talk and splitting up our dogs (my little Jasper just hates ending the play!), my neighbor reminded me that 11 days (until our days start increasing in light) will come and go soon.  Maybe I am not supposed to rush these days.  Maybe that is one of the lessons of Advent - the waiting, the preparations, the expecting, the remembering is what these days should be about.  And, only if we do this well will we truly know what Christmas is all about.

10 Things to Do instead of Shopping, with some Shopping Ideas

Did you know that instead of "celebrating" Black Friday with shopping, you can spend the day doing all kinds of other fun things that will feed your soul?   Sure you do.  But, with all the hoopla out there about the "deals" you can gift if you go out shopping, I want to remind you of the deal you give yourself, those around you, and your community by doing something other.
Here are some ideas....

1. make cookies or some savory snack - create a special, simple menu for dinner and enjoy the process of slowly cooking that meal.
2. go for a walk in your neighborhood, maybe deliver some of those baked treats to a neighbor
3. get into the woods - for a stroll or a hike
4. pack a picnic and go to a nearby state park (hot cocoa in a thermos for sure!)
5. make a list of the people you want to "gift" this year for Christmas - take time to think about who they are and what they like - wonder what kind of special gift would let them know you spent this time praying about them - as something comes to mind, pencil it next to their name (and don't be afraid to change it as the Spirit leads you).
6. read a book!
7. write a letter to someone special, expressing thanks for who they are and what you are able to share with them.
8. create something - I'm particularly fond of collaging since I'm not much of an artist and it's simple, not to mention a great way to really use those magazines/catalogues.   Anything sort of box will do.  Maybe you'll be making a gift-box for something you give this Xmas.
9. review your year with gratitude - look over your calendar from the past year and start considering what you might want to share in a Christmas letter.
10. clean out a closet, a room or a house - get a good box and start filling it with things that you can give away, things you don't use anymore but someone else might enjoy - don't wait, take that box on over to Goodwill or the nearby thrift shop

Enjoy this day.   Why not extend that special day of giving thanks.  Put into practice gratitude by cultivating it in your actions for the rest of this weekend.

And, now that I've encouraged you "not to shop," let me share with you another alternative-tag-on holiday that happens this weekend.   It's a clever marketing ploy, encouraging us to build up the economy of our local community.  So, if you want to shop this weekend - enjoy doing it well, with intention.  And, while you're out there, say "thank you," out loud and in prayer for all of the goodness that exists in your own local place - your community.

Blessings.  May you know the peacefulness that true gratitude cultivates.

Diana

Falling into Simpler Living

State College rainbow, 10/20/12

Fall has been beautiful this year.
Have you been enjoying the colors as they've blazed in this month?  Last weekend I went on a hike with a group of women from the congregation (we call ourselves "Women Wandering").   The weather was getting ready to change, the sky cycling through various hues of blue and gray.  The leaves were rich in browns, yellows, oranges and reds.  The wind was doing her thing, blowing the leaves around, sprinkling them down from the branches.   The activity was a large part of the beauty.
It was gorgeous.

The thing about fall is that it is so clearly in-between time.  The leaves change and disappear right in front of our eyes.  As I walked down my street this morning, I noticed that the yellow tree-lined street from yesterday is now a skeleton of branches lining the road.   It doesn't last long.  But, its beauty is magnificent and catches our attention.   The smells, the sounds, the sights, even the tastes inspire us to enjoy the season.   I find myself eating differently as well as trying to be outside more during these days of fall.  
It's an abundant season.  Abundance in the harvest.  Abundant in beauty.  Though our daylight hours are lessening, the time in our homes with family or self may be increasing.

It's also the season of stewardship in our churches.  I want to point that out for two reasons.

1. this is a great time to consider our true abundance.   To consider what brings beauty into our lives.  What we offer is what we have, that is part of the gift.   And it's a gift to us to notice, to pay attention to that abundance.
2. our abundance is one of the things that should lead us to live a simpler life.  Many people in our world have so much less, in terms of things and resources, opportunity and money.  And, yet, many of these people find their lives to be pleasing, even abundant.  Check this story out if you want some proof of that.   I have heard various people who have visited developing countries tell me that the offering portion of a worship service is sometimes the most joyous time.  Everyone has something to offer and brings it to the community with joy.  You see - the abundance is less about the stuff.  It's so much more about what our lives are, what they stand for, how we spend them.    I love the Annie Dillard quote, "How we spend our days is how we spend our lives."

During these final weeks of fall, consider how you might let yourself fall into some simpler living.   Start by celebrating your abundant life - your community (ies), your vocation, family & friends, what's in your refrigerator, your garden, available to you at our local farmers' markets.   Start there.  And, then let yourself simply fall into some simpler practices that enable you to celebrate that abundance.
My guess is, once you do that, you'll recognize the simple gift of wanting to share your abundance.  

This is the second week of Lent. My husband just told me that he's not eating dinner tonight with me. His fast-of-the-week. That's one of the things we're doing this year: just picking a day each week to practice. But, I'm only giving up my time. Taking the time, really.

I decided to take myself into the space of creation, the place in which I can as-easily-as-I-breath show up for God. God's always there. I know. I know. God's everywhere. God shows up in the most amazing ways for us, sometimes in the simplest of ways. The problem is that through all of my clutter (stuff, schedule, etc), I'm not aware enough of God everywhere.

So, I will spend at least one period of time/week during Lent showing up. I am taking the time to take myself out into the woods and be with the Creator of it all. It's not that God isn't in my workplace or my home, in my town or my daily life. It's that I giv my attention to other things. In the woods, the field, near the river or ocean, the beauty is just so awe-inspiring, I just can't miss God. It's as though God is silently calling me, and in that hush, I hear. I see. I am aware of God in this simple way.

I head out tomorrow at 4pm, going to park at Tussey and walk one of the Rothrock trails. Want to join me?

Lent - find a practice of Simplicity

The Season of Lent is a 40-day period that sits between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It is an opportunity for us to remember the 40-days that Jesus spent in the wilderness, prior to assuming his ministry. We might also be reminded of the 40 days Noah spent on the ark or the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert, before entering the Promised Land. The 40-days of Lent are an opportunity to do some good soul-work, as we practice a way(s) of being that encourages whole relationship with our Creator.

Do you know that often the ashes we use for the imposition of the ashes are last year's Palms from Palm Sunday. That's an important link for us - that the triumphal ride into Jerusalem takes us quickly to a painful death before we can know resurrection. As we begin a new journey to the cross, we have the opportunity to remember the ways that life and death are intimately related.

We experience this relationship every day - through nature, in our relationships, as we mature and give up our younger selves. It's sustainability, I suppose. Lent is an opportunity for us to pay attention to this vital understanding. In letting go, we grow more fully into the selves God intends for us to be. We create room for God. We simplify our lives so God's place is better known to us.

That is why a practice is helpful during Lent - we take on a practice or we give something up that shifts our awareness into high gear. Do you have something you're considering as Practice during this Lenten season.....if you'd like some ideas:

• give up listening to music/radio in the car
• give up reading magazines
• instead of purchasing a devotional, do one on-line (d365.org is a good one)
• eat less red meat - maybe all week, maybe one day/week
• purchase differently during Lent (one year I gave up purchasing anything new)
• read a book each week that encourages your soul or gives you a stronger understanding of your place in God's created order (make a 6-week reading list)
• get your books only from sharing (with others and publicly at the library)
• read Scripture each morning or night - just read it and let it speak to you
• study with others (SCPC has small groups forming next Sunday if you're interested)

Maybe you have some ideas of your own to share with us.....

Peace,
Diana