Contemplative Writing Prompts for Lent
Mardi Gras is over. Lent has come upon us. For the next forty days (or so), those of us who follow the Lenten tradition will be focusing on practices designed to bring us closer to God. The goal is to prepare for Easter’s hallelujah moment of rebirth. This year, I will prepare by using Contemplative Writing Prompts for Lent.
Lent and Contemplative Practices
Traditionally, Lent practices include fasting and prayer and disciplines and other forms of giving up. I gave up giving up many years ago. Now I take on. It’s kind of a distinction without a difference because if you are taking on something new, you have to give up something else to make room for it.
Anyway, this year, I’m taking on one meditative practice each day. It can be Contemplative Writing or swimming or sewing or mindful walking or making crosses or Tai Chi or anything that puts me in a prayer place. My friend Sybil MacBeth would add doodling and Praying in Color to the list. The determinative is whether I use it to access the presence of God.
Writing Prompts and Lent
As part of this Lenten practice, I will be offering Contemplative Writing prompts for Lent. One per day each day here on the blog throughout Lent.
The prompts aren’t hard. Each requires no more than twenty minutes. You can write for more time if you want, or for less. If you can’t figure out what the prompt means, do what you think it means. There is no wrong way to follow the prompt.
The prompts are prompts, which means mere suggestions to use for a contemplative writing practice. As explained on the School for Contemplative Living website, these prompts are designed to move us out of our habitual perspective. To drill inward to move outward and connect with the world. To help us listen to what we need to hear, see connections we didn’t see before, and feel compassion for ourselves and others. They teach us not to be afraid of the epiphany and honor moments of silent absorbing.
This blog post will be the longest of this Lenten practice. From here forward, the post will simply be the prompt. You will know a post is part of this series by this photo:
Preparing for Contemplative Writing Prompts
Here’s where I’m supposed to tell you to find a quiet place, uncross your legs with your feet flat on the floor, and slow your breathing. I don’t do that. I go sit on my front porch in the middle of the world, letting it wash all around me, and I write. My tools are paper and a pen. Others use their computer. I will use the term God or the Universe for what others call a Higher Power or Spirit or who knows what. Often times there will be no mention of any of that. Some of the prompts won’t feel right to you. Maybe give them a try anyway. Or not. We have all of Lent to experiment with this.
Lenten Writing Prompt: 1
Take 3 minutes to make a list of Lenten disciplines you have followed over the years, or what you imagine a Lenten discipline to be.
Take 17 minutes and describe your favorite activity for settling into the presence of God. Where are you? What is your physical position? Who are you with? What time of day is it? Can you hear or smell anything? What are you doing?
Contemplative Writing, contemplative writing prompts for Lent, Lent and contemplative writing, lenten practicies, writing prompts
Joanne Corey
Thank you, Ellen, for offering this opportunity. May it be a blessing to you and all who participate.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
You’re welcome! We shall see how it goes.
Joanne Corey
Granted, I’m not taking on the practice myself. We are in London visiting our family here and when I get home I’ll be mired in manuscript revision so this is not the Lent for me to try a new practice. I do appreciate that others will benefit, though.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Enjoy the visit! and I hope the revision proves to be enlightening more than tedious.
Marie Bailey
“if you are taking on something new, you have to give up something else to make room for it.” How true! It’s what I’m going through right now with taking on a year-long daily writing practice “course.” Rather than give anything up, though, I’m trying to better organize my days and not put undue expectations on myself for what I can get done in a day.
I like the idea of contemplative writing prompts. Although I’m on the fence about God, I can see how your first prompt would encourage someone to be more mindful.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I love that you are doing that course! I hope it’s going well? My days are so disorganized any order would be an improvement. 😬 Yes, I’m doing a mashup here with contemplative writing and Lent. I’m glad the first prompt struck you as encouraging mindfulness, since many of us doing contemplative writing are not into traditional religion and probably not Lent at all 🙃.
Marie Bailey
I’ve hit a bit of a lull with my daily writing practice, but Summer (the instructor) reminds us often that ebb and flow is part of a practice and to not beat ourselves up about it. I try 😉
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Wise words, indeed.