FRIDAY'S FIVE

1. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras and/or Ash Wednesday this week? How?
Ash Wednesday...alone. Under-the-weather. It was a first in a long time missing the service. During the day, I had some quiet time reading and meditating.

2. What was your most memorable Mardi Gras/Ash Wednesday/Lent?
One year when things were deeply disturbing, somewhere deep movement stirred gently and lead to some new insights. The light appeared and the blackness dissolved. I am left only with feelings and impressions, but that is all that's needed now. They remind of the many roads we walk, but know we are not alone. I also know, no goal can be reached well without the journey that grows you on the way.

3. Did you/your church/your family celebrate Lent as a child? If not, when and how did you discover it?
My church did, not family much, it was more fully discovered as I learned more about Jesus's journey and how it was connected to my own.

4. Are you more in the give-up camp, or the take-on camp, or somewhere in between?
I am more in the take on camp. Take on new attitudes; actions that bring about peace. Lent is preparation so taking on new, which means letting go of clutter in order to do that. It is intentional.

5. How do you plan to keep Lent this year?
Shedding other clutter, to make room for taking on what is needed for healthy spirituality and relationships. Facing head on darkness and turning it around to light and re-light the Fire inside. Meditation and quiet are the main ways to do this for me. To invite the Light is to invite change, new life, new vision, and stamina to stand at the Rising.

Wonders Of
Cross & Fire

Writing, I wander through shadow and light,

Resting thoughts, insights in new paradigm.

Freeing the inner turmoil to visions old-new,

New thinking of old, as One did in past Time.

Man as we are, human; also made by God,

Walked a New way, he is stopped by a cross.

Struggled in deserts of working out his life,

Earth energy changes, it's new life, not loss.

Many later along life's path did the same,

Would I, or you, choose this road, as He?

Will we run away as the men of his day?

Women dared look, and found Him free.

How long was it between dying and Rising?

Take up your path, healed; walk on to truth.

Changes so complete, shout transformation!

Spirit comes to surprise; old, babes, youth.

Be alive in life and the crosses of your day,

Rising from each, as in fresh drops of dew.

Drenched in that which only Spirit provides;

Love so full, it reflects its living Fire in you.

Free Flying Spirit ©
Lent & Easter . 2008