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
Today was so so. It was average. It was pretty normal. M’s breakfast club gave her a nice baby-celebration. There were gifts and blessings, etc. It was nice. Weather was good. Work went okay, until my phone died. But it is currently being resurrected. There is not much to report. Disciplines Scorecard: 1a) Driving the speed limit–Did well. 4:4 1b) Foul language–Needs improvement. 2:4 2) … Continue reading Lent 7: Dead Battery
Several things happened on Lent day 6 that made me stop, note my position and search for the direction that God is leading me. I’ll let two of them remain anonymous. But the third was the work being done our local Habitat affiliate. I have the privilege of chairing the Faith Relations Committee at Mon County Habitat. Since last April, we have tried to construct … Continue reading Lent 6: Opportunity
One cannot successfully know the Lord outside of others. We need others to help us. We do not always feel what we think we ought to feel. God’s grace is so pervasively upon me, but I go throughout my day numb to it, unaware even. I have observed that this is part of the human condition and perhaps one of the saddest and most sinister … Continue reading Lent 5: Community
Today was a good Lenten day. As I explained to each of my churches, as I left the driveway and headed into town for a regular day of church, I felt relief. I was joyous to see people again. And yet it was Lent 1, and I know that I take this seriously. I even enjoy the melodrama of Lent. I knew that the scripture … Continue reading Lenten Sabbath 1
The beauty of creation persevered. At 40-degrees, it was down right balmy. I have learned that I need help, and I learned that more today. I have had a good simple idea for getting the church and the neighborhood kids together. Getting others enthused to help has been the difficulty. Add to that the paralysis of winter and I keep finding myself pieces short of … Continue reading Lent 4: Almost
