Archive for February 25th, 2004
From Maggi Dawn
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LENT, SHROVE TUESDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY
I’m interested to notice that a lot of people in this blogvillage don’t know what the significance of Shrove tuesday and Ash Wednesday is. When I was a child (several hundred years ago now) this stuff was taught at Sunday School (but nobody goes there any more) at Church (but we do alternative themed services now) and in school (but we’re too PC to teach relgion properly). So for all those of you who read this, don’t know, and would like to, read on:
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I was asked about Lent tonight … I don’t think my answer was very comprehensive. This one is better, click here. Thanks to Steve Gee.
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So we also retain Lent to this day, because we see it as a salutary outward discipline that gives Christians a wonderful opportunity for spiritual renewal, It’s a time to come face to face with whatever sin may be hindering our walk with Christ. But most profoundly, it’s a time where we come face to face with the Gospel of Jesus which forgives and removes that sin and gives us the power to live anew…
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I just thought about a fun conversation I had with a former pastor and now turned writer (plus “other stuff” I think). It was strange because we haven’t really seriously sat down and talked before. all our personal conversations have been on the phone and here and there through email and SMS. I’m really looking forward to spend sometime with him this week (if possible). One remark struck me then, when he commented that how he’s no longer in the mainstream and how there was a freedom to “see” things differently, and “say” different things (ok … that’s how I perceived his statement). Tonight as I write here after a long day, and some “unexpected” interactions I feel I’mean really feel I’m not in the mainstream as well … what is in the mind of some Christians I meet baffles me, what are their priorities trouble me, what is the interest of their conversations bore me, the low level of trust (a kind of automatic suspicion) hurts me, the lack of direction and clarity and focus makes me wonder in l sorts of directions … (I’m not talking about those who are stuggling .. but those who are so called “mainstream” strong ones or even leaders)
This is a beautiful picture (or icon?) from Spencer Burke, I’m going to carry it in my head and heart as I begin my Lenten journey. After reading his post, I thought why don’t I carry one picture (or icon?) with me each day.
Delightful entry from James Tan (our very own Rock Intellectual Mystic) …. (here’s the whole post)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Eyes that are wide open can find beauty in anything, anywhere.
Behold the traditional hand wash of the Chinese restaurants. Made of Chinese tea and a slice of lime. You simply dip your fingers in, squeeze the lime, and rub your fingers. The oil will disappear, leaving behind clean, nice-smelling fingers.
What I find more appealing than the cleaning ability is that the wash is communal. We don’t get personal bowls. We all share one. We all put our dirty fingers in. We all pull our clean fingers out. For some reason, I find that appealing. We become equals. No one is too dirty to share the bowl.
If only we lived life like how we share the lime tea wash…