Created by play.wonder.belong - posted with permission from @joannajames
Lent Day 1
The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-27)
I was scared when you asked me
to give it all away,
to trust your love was safe.
I have always been my own protector,
my own defender
even when no one else was.
If my life was stripped bare
If I risked it all for you,
. Would I be made the fool?
Lent Day 2
Eve's Walk from the Garden (Genesis 3)
I wondered, Would I walk
in gardens with you again?
Would I forever be
marked & marred in
my mistakes?
I wondered,
Would you ever look
at me the same,
Would say once again
with tenderness
that I was good,
truly Good?
Lent Day 3
Esther's Musings (Esther Chapter 4)
Could I ever be More than the symmetry of my face
More than the shape of my body
More than a symbol
of what they want to see?
Could I be
My spine
My morals
My mind?
For such a time as this,
Could I inspire
Leaders to be good
Men to be wise
And a people to be saved?
Rest Day.
Lent Day 4 Elijah's Dark Night (1 Kings 19: 4-14)
The roads of my soul
Are streets stripped bare
haunted shadows
Of what once was
awake & alive
.
Do you ask me to
Get up,
Stand up,
Grow up?
.
Or do you say
Lie down now
Give it time
Rest a little while now.
.
I wonder,
Will the sun rise again?
Will you make all things new?
Lent Day 5
Moses Searches for God's Face (Exodus 33)
Why did you hide your face,
When I needed you the most? .
Why did your hand cover me,
When I was most desperate to see?
.
Would your goodness always pass me by
hidden in the cleft?
Will I always just see your back?
Lent Day 6
Joseph, The Dying of a Dream (Genesis 37-50)
Greatness: a mirage that
Lured me by day
Inspired images that
Lulled my every sleep.
But the dream coat
was stripped off
Left bare beneath the ground.
A pit not a palace,
No sheaves or stars there to bow down.
Did You know?
Did you know my dreams were nothing?
Did you know all this time
my fears were true? .
...that what I was,
was Ordinary.
Just dust to dust
through and through.
Lent Day 7
The Man on the Mat; On ‘Dependency, Community & Belonging’ (Luke 5:18-25)
Many mats
Many years
Many hands
Many tears
Each one has carried me.
Many tries
Many trips
Many times
Many slips
Each time held hope for me.
Lowered down
Careful now,
Steady on their feet
I don’t know how,
But they got me here to You.
Is this the place
Where I am not too much?
Is this the place
Where I'm finally home?
Lent Day 8
Ruth, Widowed & Working the Fields (Ruth 2:1-12)
I do all I can
to prove that i am
worthy of a
happy ending.
.
Will the path be kind?
Or will I always tread tender tracks
. fearing that my state
will forever negate
this road from ever rising?
Lent Day 9
Woman at the Well, On Living without Privilege (John 4:4-26)
Raised jug above my head
Sun beats down
I head to the well
No one is around
.
It wears out my body
To avoid them all this way
But I don’t want the questions
I don’t know what to say... I don’t know what to say
Except
This wasn't what I wanted
This isn't who I want to be
Sure, yeah
I wish my life was different
Wish I'd been born
with Opportunity.
.
Sun rises higher now
A stranger sits down
A drink is offered
Eyes squint and inquire
Does this look pry and judge
Only seeing my sins
Or do these eyes look deeper
And honour the story that's within?
Lent Day 10
Israelites in Babylon, On Living Far from Home (Jeremiah 29)
Would you
take me back to
the trees that once sheltered
the garden that once grew
the streets that once
carried me home?
.
I ache for a place
That is For me
I ache for a place
That is not against me
.
Would you take me back? .
Wind settles over me
It stops
In this place
It stops
Lifts my gaze
To the trees that hold me now
To the garden nourishing me here
To this new road that now carries me
.
In this place
I lift my gaze
. Could I let the Land Love me?
Could I let Land take me into belonging?
Rest Day.
Lent Day 11
A Young David, On Waiting (1 Samuel 28-37)
through valleys, rough terrain
Together we've fought
bears and lions
we've fought
my demons too.
.
But when I try to
move from here
to boldly take steps forward
My brothers send me back again.
And I think that
you too, refuse.
.
But would you not
be with me?
I wonder why you pause.
Would you not be at my side,
to fight this giant too?
Lent Day 12
David's Affair, On Lust & Pain (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
Found some things
Balms for pain
crowds who cheer
lovers unnamed.
.
Try to soothe,
this broken place
My life: a constant Chase
I don’t know how
to stop,
say No.
.
But I know.
I've always known,
.
It should be You...
.
But if Your love
is so strong,
Why do I still hurt the way I do?
Lent Day 13
Hagar, On Oppression (Genesis 16:1-1, Pt. 1)
I've always lived below
the place where real lives live
In the shadows of real families
behind noble lineage
.
I do my best
I fold, I clean, and cook
I lay my life down
In the ways I thought a servant should
.
I thought I'd given everything
Until they asked for 'just one more thing'
they asked for, 'all of me:
my womb, my dignity' .
Is my life just a prop
to the other lives that matter?
.
Could there be some care for me,
Someone who sees my suffering.
Lent Day 14
Sarai, On 'Not Being Enough' (Genesis 16:1-16, Pt. 2)
I didn't think I was
the woman he wished I was
I didn't think I was
the woman he wished I was
I wondered if my authenticity
was another word for flaws:
Deficiencies.
.
Got lost in swirls of jealousy
Lashed out at those
around me
was angry with the women for whom, 'It all came so easily'
.
I flinch too,
at this rumbling
drum of my life.
.
But can you hear it?
Is it audible to you?
Beneath the pounding
there are strings that mourn
This: not just kick beats,
but a grieving melody.
Lent Day 15
Simon Peter, On ‘Holding onto Wonder’ Mark 1:16-20
A long time ago
someone once told me,
to lay aside
my foolish dreams
"Time to move on"
was what they said
"No one is coming or calling,
build yourself a life instead"
.
So I chartered my own path
And i built myself a boat
made something
that would last
(At least, that is what I hoped)
But even though they said
you wouldn't ever show
I tried my best in
wind and waves
Never to let go.
I couldn’t
I wouldn’t
Let go
of inner hope
that the mystery wrapped
within the horizon
was that one day
You'd Show.
Lent Day 16
Zaccheus, On Community (Luke 19:1-10)
For all the times
I've tried to change
To be more honest
Not stay the same.
I'd always feared
I couldn't need
anyone or group
they'd already seen
the worst in me.
I waited and I wondered
One day
Could One look up
And call me down
from this hiding?
Invite me to their tribe,
a place of new abiding? .
.
.
But
For all the times
I've wanted change
I fear
they'll always
see me the same.
Rest day.
Lent Day 17
The Widow's Last Jar, On Fear & Scarcity (2 Kings 4:1-7)
I told him I was afraid.
.
He asked,
Why do you fear?
.
I have a little for now,
But not enough for later.
.
He asked,
What do you have?
.
Just some oil
a small simple jar.
.
He instructed:
Step out
Lean on
Watch the oil
Multiply
Watch the little
Become a lot
When others
are involved.
.
I said,
I'm still afraid.
.
He said,
I know
I know you are.
It's going to be OK.
.
Because together,
Together
is Enough.
Lent Day 18
Abram, On Trust (Genesis 12:1-10)
While we sat in the field
and we looked up at the sky
I told you I wanted
to be fruitful
my life to multiply.
And in the night
I heard your promise
This, I could not deny.
So I rose, went forth
to a plot of open land
tried to trust you
through and through.
Always take your hand.
.
Through and through
I trusted you
through war &
through the famine
I trusted you with
my family,
my marriage...
even though it was
Barren.
.
So now I can’t help but ask
Should it really feel this way?
Should a life etched with trust and wonder
feel so stretched,
so torn at every seam?
. Was that blanket of stars
we looked at,
Not Your promise,
but just my dream?
Lent Day 19
Noah, On Community Suffering (Genesis 6-8)
I lifted my eyes
dark clouds hovered
I lifted my arms
felt the wind
swirl around us
I didn't know why,
I was safe
while they suffered
I knew it wasn't because
You loved them Any Less.
.
I watched the
earth crack open
Your tears began to fall
for the child hurting
the mother weeping
the father in mourning,
And the friends
who were grieving.
.
And
from this
little boat,
my tears
fell too.
Lent Day 20
Man with Leprosy, On Isolation (Mark 1:40-45)
When the town was
taken from me,
.
I sat alone.
.
Outside the city gates
eerie silence echoed
in a canyon of dry land
.
Wasteland from
comforts
connection
I feared they had
forgotten me
.
I wondered,
Would you forget me, too?
Lent Day 21
Moses, On 'Doing it Scared' (Exodus 17:1-17)
I do not want to tell them,
that I am scared as well.
If I look too far ahead
the fears begin to swell...
Worried manna will run out
the meat and water too.
Will we always have enough?
Will I be enough for them,
if I walk with these fears too?
.
My voice shakes
but I tell them,
Though we cannot see
the months ahead
We will live in rhythm
with our days
My hands tremble
but I open them
We must not hoard,
but show Love Always.
.
Though we cannot see
the months ahead,
Still we have this day
And the Love that's
always led us,
will still lead
when we're afraid.
Lent Day 22
Parable of the Knocking Neighbour, On 'Prayer & Silence' (Luke 11:5-13)
I climbed the front steps
with some questions & some needs
I stood on the front porch
wanting someone to listen,
Please.
.
When I knocked,
I heard no
footsteps shuffle
along your hardwood floor
.
When I knocked,
I heard no
voices muffled
behind this great big door
.
And I felt the echoes
of an empty place
a home that was 'no more'
I reasoned to myself,
You must not
live here anymore.
Rest day.
Lent Day 23
The Israelites and the Tabernacle, Worship in the Wilderness (Exodus 25-31)
We didn't have a mighty box
four walls of brick-and-mortar
We wanted a place more permanent
So we could plan what time
You'd be there.
Could we find you now
in wild places
where tent walls
blow with every breeze?
Could we find you now
in untamed land
where rivers flow
undefined by routine?
We had wanted a mighty box
not an ever-changing landscape,
Could we find you now
A Divine Mystery
Could we gather now
In a Sanctuary unseen?
Lent Day 24
Leah, On Living Unloved Genesis 29:14-35
My village always told me
I was tolerable,
not exactly desirable.
My friends explained
I was comfortable,
nothing really admirable.
.
I didn't ever capture attention,
or incite Love unaccompanied
by hesitations.
.
But here I am now,
In the place
I should most belong
Here, I finally
let down my guard
And reach out my hands
to receive that which
my heart has always needed.
.
But
Here,
no hands reach back for me.
.
Will living a life unloved
always be my truth?
Will I always be
second choice
even here and now with You?
Lent Day 25
Nurse of Mephibosheth, On Caregiving in the Wilderness (2 Samuel 4)
I have loved you
all your life,
and through other storms
I kept you inside.
I protected
your small body
from matters which
make swords rise.
But now as we are running
through terrain
I've never faced
I'm not sure I can
be your everything,
I'm not sure I am
your safe place.
I'm sorry I'm not stronger
I can't carry you perfectly
but for every time I trip,
I pray once again for Mercy.
Mercy to cover over
Everything I couldn't be
Mercy to give you peace
and bring you back
to the table
eventually.
Lent Day 26
Joshua, Walking in the War (Joshua 6:1-23)
The waiting made me antsy
I wanted to see swift change
I wanted to move my body
and run high on adrenaline.
You know how
I love the conquest
the great race
between many things.
.
But all we did for months
was walk round and round
those walls
All we did for months,
was wait for
barriers to fall.
.
You know my stress
You know my worry
And still you ask
that I walk, not hurry.
.
Still you promise
that in the walking
lay a great and many things
not normally glimpsed
while running,
but so worthy to be seen.
Lent Day 27
Jacob, On Wrestling God (Genesis 32:22-32)
In the night we fought.
I pinned you
from every side
I pushed you hard. You hurt me.
I fought back.
then,
I cried.
I did not fight to win,
I just fought to Know.
But when morning rose
and day began to break,
I loosened my grip
and looked into
the face of the one
I'd fought so long
It was not Yours,
but Mine
illumined now
by new day's light.
Lent Day 28
Prophet Habakkuk, When Labour Bears No Fruit (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Feet stand firm on
fields forgotten
cast off by clouds
who'd long since cleared
.
Eyes lift up to see
gnarled branches
silhouetted bare on sky
the promise of fruit
now seen as a lie
.
Hands reach to touch
Vines twisted on this trellis
they deceptively slither
with vague assurances
.
And a heart holds fear
that trust has been betrayed
When everything was entrusted,
Was it all just taken away?
Rest Day.
Lent Day 29
Tower of Babel, On Losing Self-Constructed Greatness (Genesis 11:1-9)
Our hands constructed
Towers of iron and gold
Our projects looked mighty!
(Or so we were told)
We made some ladders
of honour, prestige too
We wanted to climb up
Be a part of the select few
We laboured and we toiled,
We climbed til' we ached
We wanted so badly
To each Be something Great.
.
But when skies cracked open
with thunder and with rain
Our towers began to crumble
Until all we were left with,
was each one with their own name.
.
Together,
we stood upon the rubble
when all of it was gone
Together
We wondered,
If all those things we'd longed for
Perhaps we'd
been them
all along 💛
Lent Day 30
Abigail, Leading in Conflict (1 Samuel 25:1-42)
I couldn't always tame
the dragons in my life
I saw armies use arrows
Felt the violence
from all sides
.
Me?
No,
I did not own a bow...
.
But there I stood
and watched
discord of many wings
Force met with Brute force
Recklessly in the winds.
.
At the time I wondered,
if what I had could help?
Could what I bring
disarm? Restore
this place with Peace
once more?
.
I went and got some bread
a little wine was also found
took them
to the middle and
Stood on that
battle ground.
Lent Day 31
Prodigal Son, The Long Walk Back Home (Luke 15:11-32)
Back in that house,
I felt couldn't breathe.
I ran over the fields to a city
filled with noises
salves to my needs.
I loved the constant chatter,
the drinking at every hour
I loved that late night buzz
All the flirting 'just because'
All those pleasures:
protective measures,
from ever feeling pain.
All those wrappings!
Didn't have be trapped in!
...to feeling those things again.
When suddenly
my layers were stripped back
my wounds were left wide open
I felt ashamed
I felt exposed
in this pen I found myself in.
.
But I looked and saw
a road ahead
one that would be
walked alone
I heard the road
call out my name,
It was calling me
back Home.
Lent Day 32
The 'Older Brother', The Long Walk Back Home Pt.ll(Luke 15:11-32)
You were always so Good so faithful in your chores More responsible than anyone I'd known before. And over the fence the neighbours would watch, praise me for my Eldest "The Steady One" my "Rock" . But as you laboured the fields each Summer, Spring year-by-year I saw a tightening. You became brittle fearful to the touch fiercely guarded from ever needing much. . I'd call you from the kitchen Reach for my Beloved One you'd always flinch away "Much work to be done" . I wish that you could see that though you'd never really Run You'd also never really come. You are so worthy of my love So worthy to come Home.
Lent Day 33
Daniel, On Integrity (Daniel 6:11-23)
It has been hard
to learn that
The Right Thing
doesn't always lead to
The Blessing.
The Right Thing
sometimes means
Losing.
.
Losing those things
holding onto me.
.
My life stripped down
to this pit of uncertainty
I sit and I wait
Just me, myself, Integrity.
I sit and grip
The True Things,
held deeply within
faith that Lions' mouths can close
And I will not be
Forgotten.
Lent Day 34
The Lost Sheep, On Being Found (Luke 15:1-7)
I showed up a little late The Pack: already tight all lined up at the gate. Tried to shape up amalgamate shoulders back nice and tall stand up straight. . But I was a little clumsy stepped on a couple toes my distractions, my objections my constant wandering... you know. I couldn't quite get into an easy rhythm with the rest I couldn't quite 'settle down' even when I tried my best. . And one day, I found meandering had brought me to a meadow I wondered if this time I'd really gone too far... But over the plain I saw someone coming The Love who'd always promised to come after me running.
Rest Day. (Palm Sunday🌿)
Lent Day 35
Mary Anoints Jesus' Feet, On Beauty in Times of Need (John 12:1-11)
I sat awhile watching droplets fall softly at your feet My gift was so small, but it was precious to me. . "Had I forgotten, a world on Fire?" I heard them criticize At such a time as this! So wasteful! "Squandered time" they despised. . But you knew. You knew, I was no stranger to putting out the flames advocating, interceding wrapping arms around the pain. There is a time, you said A time for everything. . And I felt this moment of fragrant beauty It was not just for feet to be made clean. This moment of fragrant beauty, It was washing Healing over me.
Lent Day 36
The Weak, On Teaching the Wise (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
I flash my badge
as you open the door
Glance nonchalantly at
my briefcase on the floor.
We sit down for tea
I chatter with updates
stretched out workdays
Evenings up so late!
.
But you are a little distracted,
at the window, you look outside.
Small Ones run with barefeet, carefree
blowing bubbles in the sky.
You look back at my hands
fidget nervously with my cup.
You take them in your own
Rest assured!
So glad I showed up!
.
It was just that,
Well,
when it came to You and me
Honestly?
I could bring a little less
Didn't need my A game
Didn't need my Very Best.
.
I could relax my face,
take a breath
and look back to the start.
Remember that child with empty hands?
She's the one you hold here,
so deeply in Your heart.
Lent Day 37
Judas, On Betrayal (John 13:21-32)
In all the people that I am
and all the stories that I live,
I too, cut quick slick deals to thrive.
Resent the irritation,
at travelling down the needle,
to make it to the eye.
.
I have given my garden for some fruit
sold my brother for ‘a few’
swapped my birthright for a strew
exchanged fidelity for someone new.
.
Each time
I toss down palms
gather coins up
from the trade
I wonder if I have
auctioned off my own soul,
and it is Real Love that I've betrayed.
Lent Day 38 - Maundy Thursday
Peter, Having his Feet Washed by Jesus (John 13:1-17, 31b-35)
The sun tucks down quietly
behind the hills into her nest
candles are lit, invitation to rest.
Soles are worn from walking,
working hard within the heat
But in the cool of the evening
We sit now, prop up our feet.
Wine in our glasses
We enjoy the banter here
Breaking bread, we draw near.
But when you say you want to wash
I don't willingly welcome the offer
Worried that by now
I shouldn't need any more water.
.
You say some things with words that
I try to understand.
I try to listen carefully.
Then, you say it again:
With warm rags you wrap up
the feet of men
dusty bruised
You sit with every place of me
not too broken
not too old
not too late
to be made New.
Lent Day 39 - Good Friday
Peter, The Day Love Died (Matthew 27:32-61)
It was on a Friday that I, decided it was time to say goodbye. Lay down my hopes in heroes In Holy Love Unconditional. In the end, it all just didn't hold. . Did I regret it? No... All those years spent on the road, All a waste? I didn't think so... many mothers, lepers, children fed It sure was a noble Go. Of course, we'd dreamt of More But maybe deep down we all knew To see You be our deepest hope, it was just too good to be True... . All the healings, all the teachings they couldn't save us now All the Holy Love in all the world, Couldn't even come save You.
Lent Day 40 - Holy Saturday
Peter, On Grief (John 19:39-42)
Saturday morning; was it all just a dream? My body heavy, held down Eyes cant seem to open. Outside, dawn's early waves rise and fall The familiarity of routine: it's time to get up. . I slip on my shoes, and out the front door unseen; the way I want it. I walk the morning mile to my old boat right where I'd left it, so many years ago. . And I kick it. I kick it hard. I lift up an oar and I slam it. Over and over I slam it with all my might. I hear myself shouting and cursing wood of the oar now splintering. . Did you know I would be made the fool? Did you know I'd be left with nothing... If I gave up everything to follow Him? My anger breaks me. It wears me down until I crumble, Exhausted I fall, a heap into the sand. I lean back against my boat. Knees into my chest, try to take a breath. Something in me cracks, Deep within me weeps. . My boat props me up, steady, reliable, keeps me from falling over. She holds me lets the tears flow until I slowly return my gaze, Silently I watch the waves and wonder, Is it time to accept that it's all over?
Easter Day - Easter Sunday 🕊️
Peter, On Resurrection (JOHN 21:1-14)
Each misty morning I rose dragged my self back to the sea eyes on the horizon, trying to forget the One who'd left me. To numb my life of feeling I buried myself in work focused on the tasks at hand not on promises broken, on hurt. That day, was just an ordinary one out on my boat, casting my net when I heard Someone call out to me: DON'T GIVE UP my Friend! Not just yet! I bolted up a little taller quite startled by this caller! I leaned in, peered at the shore Yes! I'd certainly heard that voice before! You stood there smiling in the sand, I laughed you grinned at me You motioned for me to come and eat To come have a rest from sea. You who'd seemed Forever Gone, Here! You, the one for whom I'd longed Back on this beach for me! I jumped from that boat swam home to You Felt cool water wash me over, making me, once again, New.
Each day we post a new photo and reflection from @joannajames for the season of LENT. Joanna James will be presenting a workshop at our next Children's Spirituality Summit. Joanna lives in Toronto, CA. and posts regular updates to her Instagram site: @play.wonder.belong - you are encouraged to follow her on Instagram or on her Facebook page.