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I’ve never been a very good Lutheran. I prefer to call myself a Christmas (creation) Christian, rather than an Easter Christian. However, this Lent I am reading a book and discussing at Sunday school with Pastor Kara, and others, mostly about the theology of the cross, and how “kenosis” a theological term for “emptying of self” is the true meaning of the cross. Both Jesus, as a human, and God, as Jesus, emptied themselves for all humanity. Kenosis is not triumphal, only in that love won, not hate, not violence, not power, but a giving of self. It’s a hard book to read, but I’m understanding it in new ways. I’ve also added a practice this Lent, and I hope to continue it beyond. When I was a child I always fell asleep praying for everyone in the world. Some I knew by name, and talked about how God needed to be with them, or heal them, and others were general groups, like everyone with a broken arm, etc. I love going through a list of those I love at night, and asking for blessings and healing, and then moving on to others. I find that I never get to the Amen. --Cynthia
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n my past, I have been part of several Lenten study groups and prayer groups. It seems that most of those memories stem from the years in Enid that were the most stable in our family's life. We were very active in the Episcopal church and enjoyed a circle of friends through that connection. Right after Vatican 2 the Roman Catholic church offered a Lenten prayer service for everyone to attend and take communion together. It was at 7:30am on a Wednesday morning each week, so the RC's didn't have to worry about being overtaken by Protestant outsiders. I really enjoyed the service, read in English, and shared by a small group that came together regularly. For a few years we had a Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday in our home. We had a script and followed it with the bitter herbs, flat bread, roasted lamb and the cups of wine. It was a special time for our guests and us. Now I'm not doing anything this year for Lent; thinking about past times that were happy, denying the bad and living today with hope for a future of connections again. --donna One of my favorite things to do happened a couple of years ago and has stuck with me. It was a daily devotion with 40 things to give up for Lent. Before you start thinking how can I do that, the daily items to give up were things like disunity, fear of failure, busyness, loneliness, and destructive speech. It was such a novel approach and one I really appreciated and try to practice to this day. It makes so much more sense than trying to give up chocolate or some other pleasure. One year I did give up meat and was pretty successful. Since then, I have looked at Lent from a different perspective as a way to deepen my spiritual path. What I try to do is add something to my daily meditation or devotional time. As I was going through books and resources in a clean out sort of way, I re-discovered two Lenten devotionals by a friend of mine who passed away some years ago. It seemed a good way to add to my journey and honor my friend. She was a very devout and spiritual woman who began her faith journey as a Quaker. She wrote and published two or three books. She was an influence on me during a difficult time in my life and we worked together to help a group of people who were able to leave Hissom, for a better life in a more public setting with appropriate resources. I miss her gentle spirit to this day and find a connection with her as I read what she wrote. I am glad I decided to do this and found what she had written. This has added to my Lenten journey. --Carolyn I haven’t generally felt it very helpful to “give something up” for Lent. I just don’t see how sacrificing my favorite foods or a comforting habit for six weeks can benefit my spiritual life. If I’m trying to lose weight, sure, but otherwise, no. Thinking of Lent as a season of reflection, and spending more time in reflection is more helpful. A year ago, our church initiated a prayer vigil for Lent, and I grew to love that small discipline: just 10 minutes a day at a specific time. I never stopped. This year, we’re working through Forty Days to a Closer Walk With God by J. David Muyskens to instill a daily 20-minute practice of contemplative prayer. It’s been challenging so far, and I’m still working my way up to 20 minutes. The hardest thing is to empty my thoughts enough to make room for God, and there’s not that much up there to begin with. It’s a struggle, but I’m hopeful that after 40 days, I’ll make some progress. And I’ll hope this habit continues beyond Lent. --Janice Lent is a time for private reflection, soul-searching, and repentance. I don’t like the typical statement that goes with the imposition of ashes, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” I don’t believe that God sees us as inconsequential, which is what I hear in that phrase. And it doesn’t capture the meaning of Lent. The ashes originally were to symbolize mourning and repentance, and I think that this statement misses the boat. I prefer the alternative that came out after Vatican II: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” I don’t have much to say about what I’m doing during Lent because for me this is private, between me and God. I used to give up food in some way or other, either fasting from a particular food or on specific days or times. Those types of practices did not seem to accomplish anything related to the purpose of Lent. Currently, in addition to extra time of prayer and meditation, I find it to be more meaningful to “add” something that is sacrificial in nature or that requires me to face my besetting sins. Lent calls us to take a hard look at the worst parts of ourselves. It’s difficult and humbling. This is not a joyful time in the church. However, for me, there is also always a deeper understanding of God’s love. --Terese I was going to skip this one, because I’ve written about how my husband and I are better friends, and I’ve already written about the fabulous relationship with my Zoom sisters!!! But I think I should mention that I have really appreciated the relationship I have with Pastor Kara from attending her SS class each Sunday. This week there was only one other person on the Zoom, and we talked the whole time, about meaningful stuff. We see eye to eye on just about everything, and she is so fun to discuss theological ideas with. In the midst of this red state, she is willing to talk about liberalism, feminism, liberation theology, literary criticism, the news of the day, etc, etc. The depth of our relationship has really grown, and I have gained immensely from it. --Cynthia When Tim and I first retired in 2019, we had to get used to spending more time together. Being used to so much activity with work and other commitments, it was really an adjustment. We had to learn to respect each others' space and learn a little patience (mostly me). Less than a year later, Covid forced us inside, one-on-one for months on end. Fortunately, we chose to let my brother Jon and his wife Trudy into our "quaranteam." That has made it possible for us to visit and share meals with them on a weekly basis. We also gather outside with Marc and his family when the weather permits, which is pretty often in Texas, fortunately. We've learned to visit with masks on and six feet apart. We would like to be able to hug each other, but because we spend so much time in our own small worlds, whenever we do get together, it's a special occasion even without touching. Sharing conversation is the most important thing. We've also spent more time developing relationships with others via Zoom during this time, including our California family. We've enjoyed seeing them and playing games together online, something we'd never done pre-Covid. Tim reads with one of our grandsons via Google Meet a couple of times a week now, which gives them one-on-one time to connect. I've also done science labs or game time with our granddaughter. Seeing each other without masks on is the best! I've learned to appreciate online meetings more than I thought I would. I can dress as I want, and I don't have to "pretty up" or leave home to connect. Zoom removes some of the pretentiousness of face-to-face meetings. Connecting with my Sarah's Circle sisters weekly has been especially sustaining. Being known this well--and appreciated in spite of it--is something I'm more grateful for today than I was a year ago. Thanks, Zoom! --Janice Facebook is a lifeline for many, but I gave it up when the politics of 2020 elections became so rude & mean. And then the ignorance displayed by those who fought against wearing masks and other safety measures having to do with the pandemic just wore me down. I just gave up. As one person said "I'm not going to argue with people any more", I didn't argue but I sure got tired of listening. I have come to rely on texting messages with friends much more than I would ever have thought I would. I don't know a boatload of people, never been good at casual friendships, and I've moved enough to not put down roots too deep in the last few years. My biggest relationship change has been with Karla & Fredrick. I've become comfortable trusting them in many ways to care for us and help me with the difficult decisions that come along. They are our financial POA trustees and when we get around to it, they will have my medical POA also. Life will not always be this way, I hope. New relationships will come along in the art community when life begins to get back to face-to-face meetings. And in a church community also, I think. We'll see. I've gotten pretty comfortable being a caregiver for Chris and staying in our little world. --donna P.S. How could I have neglected to add our Monday AM Zoom meetings as part of my relationships in 2020?? I have thought, often, that I live on a very small island right now. I need to check in on Chris every hour or so, just to be sure he is safe. Volunteer opportunities usually come in longer time frames than that! So, our Zoom is a window on a larger world for me. Thank you, for keeping me up to date on larger issues in our world. And sharing the joy of seeing your smiling faces and sharing lots of laughs with y'all! In some ways it is easier to stay in touch during the pandemic because no one is expecting you to travel or meet them for any kind of event. Much of what I was doing shifted from in person to Zoom and for that I am grateful. The work with ACTION kept going full steam because it was election time and there were candidates to interview and hold accountability sessions with. I was able to get to know a couple of political people a bit better by being part of this. I could be active and not feel a need to go to city council meetings. I could still have my voice heard. Now I am keeping up as best I can with the legislative session that is going on in Oklahoma City. I have done a better job of connecting with an aunt who has really been confined due to health and age. We agree on politics so we have good conversations. I have been able to stay in touch with one brother, and I now have to navigate carefully due to our really different way of perceiving current events. We have been clear that we love each other so I feel better about that than I did for a while. Right after the election, I didn't call for a while. My other brother has moved to Texas and has reached out after no contact for 5 to 6 years. We haven't talked, but texted a couple of times. I have hesitated, in part, because I am still leery about what happened before and because of the terrible weather, power outages, etc., in Texas in the last week or so. My daughter and I have been able to connect regularly with a couple of glitches lately, due to her possible exposure to COVID and then the weather. No COVID and now the weather is better so we can get back to a more regular schedule. We usually eat together once every week or so and she has taken to staying longer when she comes here. She is in a better situation as far as housing goes, so things are improved from some times in the past. We are at six months for Leroy working and almost 6 years into marriage. It has been a year of adjustments and we have made it through. Hopefully we can continue to get closer and stay on the same page. We have such different experiences and backgrounds, but the love is definitely there. --Carolyn I’ve been grateful that the past year at home has been spent with my dearest friend, my husband. We have always gotten along well, but I wondered if 24/7 would be different, especially as we are both retired. It’s not, in part due to the fact that we each do our own thing for much of the day. It’s interesting how we impose a work-type schedule on our lives. Too many years working I guess! I’m aware as I write this that many women and children are not as fortunate, being locked in with an abuser. And the likelihood of abuse increases under these stressful conditions. My heart goes out to them. I miss my children and grandchildren! I have regular texts and phone calls with my daughters, but I really miss seeing them in person. My son has never been great at long distance communication, so visits have always been the primary way to keep our relationship going. I also miss those visits because he has two babies. At first I saw the grandson who is in town and was doing school remotely, but now he’s back at school and can’t come over. I call him occasionally, but he is 9 and not into long conversations with his grandmother. Zoom has helped in one instance with seeing grandchildren. I see my two granddaughters in Phoenix on a weekly hour-long zoom call their mother has established, primarily to have an adult checking in with them while she works. The 8-year-old often just wants me to watch her play a video game during her time, so she sets her laptop where I can see the tv. That’s pretty boring. However, the 15-year-old seems to really enjoy talking, and we have become much closer over this time. Zoom hasn’t been much help with maintaining family relationships, except for the one granddaughter, but it has been great with friends. My weekly women’s group has become the highlight of my week, and we have even been able to bring back two members who had moved away. We talk about all kinds of things and we frequently text during the week, which I enjoy. I feel closer to them now because of this time together. Although not as regular, I also treasure zoom calls with couple friends. It’s a great way to stay in touch. Isolation during the pandemic has heightened my awareness of how important relationships are to me. Technology helps to some extent, but nothing replaces face to face interaction. --Terese |
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