Friday was a day off…not a Lenten Sabbath, but just a day off from work.  All of which means it’s time to catch up on house work.  By the time I got to bed, I had put in a day’s worth of effort.  Nevermind that it wasn’t of the getting paid kind. Disciplines Scorecard: 1a)  Driving the speed limit–Was pretty good, but rather too casual … Continue reading Lent 15: Off

Today was a sunny day.  Oh my, how I have needed that.  I began by shoveling, but with a sense that it is close to be done.  I tried again to get an early/on-time start to my day.  It worked well.  When I left early and went to the office, I was quite productive.  I have learned so much about the Scripture passage this week.  … Continue reading Lent 14: Sun

Today, I left early and got home late.  The scripture for the week is about a fig tree that produced no fruit after 3 years.  The gardener gets 1 more year and a steaming pile of manure to make things better, or else. I have reviewed my disciplines scorecard and found that I was often falling below the halfway mark.  I have had a couple … Continue reading Lent 13: Effort

When I drive the speed limit, people behind me have to go slower.  This is a weird element to the disciplines…they can’t be all about me.  “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”  In what other ways do the disciplines … Continue reading Lent 12: Affect…or is it Effect

It’s not the winter blues, but it is the winter grays.  It’s having a hard time getting the energy I need.  It’s vitamin-D deficiency or whatever.  It’s sleeping okay, but not resting well.  It’s a decline in confidence and a struggle with motivation and direction.  It is a lack of perseverance in dealing with shortcomings or obstacles.  But disciplines aren’t only for days on which … Continue reading Lent 11: Determination

I ended my Lenten Sunday with a marathon game of Civ IV.  Even then, I have tendencies that are part of my character.  I prefer the “Diplomatic Victory” over all others.  I always decline instituting “Slavery” when the option is presented, and I only go to war when attacked. I also tend to think positively about church.  Then there are times when it all seems … Continue reading Lenten Sabbath 2: Stopping

1a on my list of Lenten disciplines is driving the speed limit at all times.  This ought to be a no-brainer, since it’s the law.  But I bought my first car last year and it is a standard transmission and is really fun.  How can I have fun now that I am spiritually mandated to obey the law?  I have had to invent some ways … Continue reading Lent 10: Committing

Day 9 of the Lenten 40 seemed to be about imagery.  Some of this is silly, because I got a new camera.  The new camera is to greet the new bundle of joy and poo when he/she arrives in April/May.  Most of the environment around me is snow-white, snow gray and snow brown.  So there is a dominating hue to everything.  I was hoping we … Continue reading Lent 9: Imagery

…a time to break down; and a time to build up… Day 8 of 40 was a day of building.  It began with snow building up again in driveway.  Two weeks ago, I hand-shoveled approx 600,000 tons of snow from the driveway (rough estimate).  To see it returning was demoralizing.  I went into hunker down mode.  I really have a hard operating in bad weather.  … Continue reading Lent 8: Building Up