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40 words of lent 2014: Day 0

March 4, 2014 By Sandra Heska King

40 words wilderness

Today is “Fat Tuesday,” and I ate a pazcki. Prune. They’re my favorite. They’re the traditional ones, and they’re not as sweet as the others. (I wish we had a Rudy’s in Michigan.)

Still, it added up to about four bazillion calories.

It’s a filling for the spilling for the filling.

I plan to start working off that fat tomorrow when I dust off my exercise bike. While I’m doing that, I’ll  begin to gorge on an audio version of the New Testament. Because I’m carving out 40 minutes a day to answer Margaret Feinberg’s 40-Day #LentChallenge.

#LentChallenge

 

Here’s what else I’m doing for Lent–besides giving this up.

I said goodbye to God in the Yard three years ago in May. It took me eight months to work my way through this book by L.L. Barkat. And it worked deep things in me as I stilled myself in the yard “for the rest of me.” My mom sent me a pink sweatshirt to wear so I wouldn’t have to bundle up in a Dora blanket on cool mornings. This book changed my life, and maybe it and the exercises Laura suggested strengthened me for what the rest of the year would bring. Who could know that my mom, who journeyed with me through my posts, would be diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and die before the year ended?

At any rate, I’ve gotten away from the yard, and so during Lent I’m committing to sitting in my pink sweatshirt, stilled for 40 minutes–although if the weather stays cold, I may be forced to walk a bit to keep the blood flowing, so still doesn’t turn to frozen.

One more thing. And I don’t know if I can follow through. But here’s the plan. There’s so much going on as we move into this season of reflection and preparation–Bible readings and Lenten devotionals and spring breaks and sacrifice, I want to give you a little white space here. A quiet place to breathe and reflect.

So I’m just going to offer you a few words a day–40 to be exact. They might be my words. They might be someone else’s words. They might be a reflection of that day’s Bible reading. I might have so many words, you’ll need to come back for a “to be continued” post. I’m doing this on an impulse. I’m not exactly sure how it will work. Or if it will work. Or if I can even do it. But I’m going to try. And any text on a graphic is gravy. 🙂

I guess you could call this a sacrifice of words.

So I’ll see you here tomorrow for just 40 words of Lent.

Deep breath.

wilderness2

In the stillness,

Sandy

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: 40 Words of Lent - 2014, Blog, stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Dea says

    March 5, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I love that you count this day zero. The day they gave my Dad his stem cell transplant was counted zero. I called the days after the “resurrection phase” of his treatment as we waited for the baby cells to bring him new life. Need to get back in the “yard.” Struggling a little but have enough strength for today… Are you writing all forty days???

    • Sandra Heska King says

      March 5, 2014 at 11:02 am

      I’m planning to write all 40 days. But only 40 words. I’ll have another post up later today, I hope. I tried to post this one yesterday, but it kept knocking the previous post out. I’m hoping Lyla can figure out the issue today–whether it’s a fluke in the background… or just me.

      Strength for this day. That’s all we can ask for, right? Love you, Dea.

  2. Lyli @ 3-D Lessons for Life says

    March 5, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    Love this 🙂

    • Sandra Heska King says

      March 5, 2014 at 11:31 pm

      😀

  3. Martha Orlando says

    March 5, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    What a marvelous idea for Lent, Sandy! I will be looking forward to your 40 words, my friend!
    Blessings!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      March 5, 2014 at 11:33 pm

      Thanks, Martha. I hope it’ll be fruitful… and quiet. 🙂

  4. linda says

    March 5, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    love this idea. 40 word discipline during a time of discipline and reflection….it’s good.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      March 5, 2014 at 11:34 pm

      I hope it turns into something meaningful for all of us. 🙂

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