Lent Day 23: I give up the Talk of Gratitude

March 11, 2021 — Leave a comment

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:9-10

I give up the talk of gratitude, and instead, walk the life of gratitude. I give up saying I’m grateful because I feel obligated to say it. I give up declaring my gratitude because I’m afraid of what people think. I give up prefacing all my conversations with I’m grateful, without sharing the heartache and other areas I’m trying to work through as well. I give up lessening my desires and hiding my dissatisfaction for fear of being seen as ungrateful. Instead of making it plain in words, I want to live like I know each moment and each human is precious. I want to live like I have been given so much, time, money and energy wise. I want to live from having, being enough and still want more without guilt. I want my joy, my generosity, my care for others to be proof of my gratitude, even if I don’t say, I’m grateful.

Lent Day 22: I give up Neglecting my Body

March 11, 2021 — 1 Comment

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls; Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:11-13

I give up neglecting the needs of my body. I give up neglecting the messages from my body. I give up lashing my body for how it feels and what it needs. I want to listen better to my body. I want to befriend my body. I want to be really good, kind friends with my body. I want give my body the space and permission it needs to feel heard and taken care of. I give my body the space it needs to hurt, to heal, to laugh, to cry, to give, to need, to be, to be, to be!

Lent Day 21: I give up Unworthiness

March 9, 2021 — Leave a comment

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and to break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6

I give up discarding the freedom God has already granted me. I give up hiding in the former ways because it feels more familiar. I give up putting on the coat of unworthiness when God has claimed me as worthy. I give up re-chaining what God has set loose. I give up going my way when God has planted me in their way. I pray I stand and live and soak and bask and enjoy and celebrate the body and space I now stand in, truly stand in according to God’s love and promises.

Lent Day 20: I give up Human Relations Tactics

March 8, 2021 — 1 Comment

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:11-12

I give up trying to impress everyone. I give up trying to play the game of being the friendliest in the room. I give up the tactics of networking and commodifying human relationships. I want to connect, the way that feels kind and true in my body. I want to see people. I want to know people. I want to be a spring, a well that isn’t obsessed with doing the connections, but is flowing connection vibes from the inside. Make me this sort of people attracter, keeper, holder, builder.

Lent Day 19: I give up Disconnection

March 7, 2021 — Leave a comment

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:11-12

I give up curating a community that makes me feel comfortable. I give up curating a community that makes me feel unchallenged and right. I give up curating a community of relationships that cater to my needs. I give up writing people off because of my initial reactions and hurt. I give up unforgiveness because it makes my life less complicated. I ask for a grace and understanding that springs from an immense love for all humanity. I ask for an undying hope in humanity. I ask for new eyes to see those who have hurt me as those who are hurting or have been hurt. I ask to be refreshed and renewed so that I will be a well-watered garden for all to find rest and joy.

Lent Day 18: I give up Being Responsible for Another’s Behavior

March 6, 2021 — Leave a comment

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Isaiah 58:8-9

I give up trying to fix other people. I give up trying to control the outcome. I am responsible for my own behavior, my own thoughts, my responses and my own growth. I am accountable for my behavior, my responses and the harm I inflict. This I can focus on. This I can be brave in changing. This I can face head on. I can be kind. I can be vulnerable. I can apologize when I have done wrong. I can work towards being better, healthier and more helpful. That’s it. That is it. Lord have mercy.

Lent Day 17: I give up One Foot In Generosity

March 5, 2021 — 1 Comment

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untied the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Isaiah 58:6-7

I give up half-ass generosity. I give up generosity with a caveat. I give up generosity with one foot in my expectations for a return. I give up generosity that is calculated. I give up generosity that is rational. I give up generosity that is wishy washy. I want to live in a generosity that makes me a second nervous about my own comfort. I want to live in a generosity that doesn’t require me to be seen by people, and definitely makes me need to be seen by God. That kind of overwhelming shit-should-I-I-need-to-right? generosity. Open my heart. Open my wallet. Open my schedule. Open my hands to hold others. Test me God!

Lent Day 16: I give up Malicious Talk

March 4, 2021 — 1 Comment

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:9-10

I give up the kind of speaking that separates and disconnects me from others. I give up the kind of speaking that divides. I give up the kind of talk that I regret. I give up speaking ill of others. I give up gossip. I give up the desire to know the inside scoop so it gives me a feeling of belonging, even though I know it’s only poison for true connection. I give up speaking from a place of resentment and bitterness. Oh, God, I ask for a breath and a moment before I stick my foot in my mouth. I forgive myself for all the times I have not lived with this kind of integrity and value. I forgive myself for not doing this perfectly. I give into doing better with my mouth, which means cultivating a healthier and more open heart within.

Lent Day 15: I give up Even the Good Things

March 3, 2021 — Leave a comment

You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untied the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:5-6

I give up picking and choosing what to surrender to God. I give up keeping certain burdens and concerns for myself. I give up controlling which chains I’m willing to break and which I’m willing to stay in. It’s an all or nothing endeavor — this sort of dreaming, fasting and trusting of God. You either jump into the ocean or stand on your own shaky foundation. You either live a lifestyle for freedom and against oppression or live in a way that doesn’t include everyone, everything. This sort of brave and faithful living requires laying even our good things and the things we have found comfort in for too long, on the altar. This is the only way to make room for what God has had in store for us all along.

Lent Day 14: I give up Gatekeeping My Joy

March 2, 2021 — Leave a comment

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

I give up boxing in and holding down my joy in anticipation of disappointment. I give up lessening my joy for fear of losing it. I give up holding in my joy for fear of it being taken away. Let us revel in joy not to get the spotlight, but to share the spotlight, and to be a reminder that goodness and hope prevail even if in this moment they seem faint. I give up squashing celebration. I give up partying small. I give up gatekeeping my joy when it can be an encouragement.