Day 15: Fulfillment times three

All 3 of my "too-full" friends I mentioned recently have given birth to their babies. Welcome to the world, Anna, Jacob and Phoebe!

Day 13: P is for Perseverance

I had intended to post *something* for PAL each day, but that has not happened. However, I am not throwing in the towel. This is a valuable venture, even if I am in it alone (or perhaps with the few friends who expressed interest at the get-go).

My father, the healthiest 60-something-year-old imaginable, had to have heart bypass surgery last week, which threw our family into a frenzy of visiting, calling, praying, communicating with various friends and relatives, and hoping, hoping, hoping for his success in surgery and his speedy recovery. We are still in that last mode, but he *did* make it through surgery and he *is* home recovering. Praise Be! Praise Be!

All that being said, I have had to modify my PAL observances this past week, as I have been serving as the family dispatcher of information -- emailing friends and family about Dad's status and well-being. I think I can safely commit to resuming the 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. computer "fast." However, I would like to scratch the sugar/flour fast and replace it with this: a food fast from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. as well. I find that the sugar/flour restrictions interfere with my family too much. Plus if I eat a piece of Halloween candy or two, I'm inclined to "freak out" and feel dreadful for hours thereafter. That's not drawing me closer to Christ; that's prompting me to feel sorry for myself. No, I'll allow myself sugar and flour in moderation and focus on the purpose for PAL: Thinking of Jesus, the author of perfector of my faith.

Day 3 - Part 2: "Before Birth: A Waiting Prayer" (Barrowby)

"Here, Lord,
We await your gift of life.
Grown in secret
Now in ripeness
Full fruited
Ready to be received.

Lord, we long for our child,
Borne out of covenant love
Nurtured in love, hope, forgiveness,
Received as gift, blessing, joy.

Release in her abundant grace,
Enjoyment of all that earth affords,
Gentleness to those whose way has been hard,
Patience, kindliness and faith.

We receive, nurture and set free your gift,
Not only our child, but yours,
Yours to enjoy and delight in,
Ours to marvel at your generosity.

Lord of all the living
God of the uncreated and yet to be
Create in us community
As we await your gift."

~Barrowby

Day 3: In the fullness of time

I am too full because I ate too much for supper.

I have 3 friends who are "too full" with their babies--past their due dates or über-uncomfortably close.

Mary was "too full" with the Christ child, God in human form. Jesus was cramped up in his mother's innards, jostled by a long journey and ultimately born in a barn.

I'm trying too hard to be poetic. But this simple meditation does help me to realize, even in the midst of my regret for having overeaten, that God is with us, mixed right in with our mess-ups, ready to be born into our lives, ready to bear the burdens of our humanness, ready to redeem our mistakes and lead us to a better way of life, for now and forever.

Thank You, Jesus. I choose to follow You. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit. Fill me to overflowing. Make me "too full" of You.

Day 2: Early Lessons

Day 2 and I've already fizzled? You (if any of you are out there reading) might have suspected as much because I haven't posted all day until now. Yes and no. I'm still of the PAL mindset, although I did partake of some snacks brought to my Thursday morning moms group that would possibly/probably qualify as "sweets." And I did partake of some white flour in the form of breadsticks that my husband bought as our family dinner last night. I decided it would be ungrateful and unnecessary to insist on an alternative meal, especially when it was a busy day and evening and I had no other plans. And anyway, at least I had a "hot meal," however objectionable nutritionally, to come home to...and a home. We have another homeless couple coming to the non-profit agency where I work -- the second such couple (that we know of) in the past 6 months. I thought of them as I walked home from work in a chilly drizzle, admiring the lovely leaves, so colorful against the grayness of today. Our car doesn't start, we have more bills to pay than we know how, our income is threatened, but we have a home and hot food, and our good health, and our love, and our God. For those less fortunate, O Lord, I pray --

Day 1: What are you willing to relinquish? And for what?

One this first day of PAL (Pre-Advent Lent), I gave some thought to what I would "give up" during this time. That's what Christians do during Lent, right? "Give up" stuff? I really prefer the word "relinquish." It's so much more eloquent, and it seems to have a deeper meaning, implying purpose behind the sacrifice. So I've decided that, in the hope of drawing closer to Christ, I will relinquish the following for the next 40 days, starting today:

1) Computer use between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

2) Sweets (sugary stuff, plus other "junk carbs," like white bread)

3) Christmas shopping. Yes, you read that right. I love to give gifts, but I need to face facts: We don't have much extra money for purchasing presents this year. So I hope the next 40 days will allow me to think of some creative alternatives to consumerism. At the very least, I will be giving myself and my holiday recipients the gift of honesty.

What will you relinquish? And why?

Day 0 - Part 2: Not-So-Novel Notion

I was feeling concerned about the theological implications of this Pre-Advent Lent idea. I wouldn't want to disrespect God or the tried-and-true traditions of the Church just because I need a kick in the pants. So I looked up "Pre-Advent Lent" and found that, in the Eastern Church, Advent actually has been, historically, more like Lent -- "a lesser lent" -- than our Western hoopla. Check out the History of Advent here: http://www.spirithome.com/advent.html.