What a beautiful person! I so admire the acceptance of their past self: no “capacity for animosity.” I guess I still have quite a large capacity for animosity.
For lent I will have a weekly phone sabbath: Fridays at sundown to Sunday morning service. I feel the internet keeps me distracted more than anything else at this point.
This is a great review. I will check this album out over the weekend, and share with a few folks who might be interested.
My lenten Disciplines are going old school this year:
1. Fasting from- Sweets. It has been a long time since I've done a physical fast and yesterday was enough to prove this was the right choice. Lots of opportunity to lean on Jesus. The lenten devotional I'm using is focusing on how to forgive people/institutions/situations. And on Day 1 my unsugared soul revealed *several* areas where I could maybe (ok definitely) work on forgiveness. Yikes.
2. Feasting on - Snail mail cards and letters for no occasion than just to say hello. I've got all this fun stationary I never use. People could use more than election flyers, yes? One note per day.
Thanks for the write up on Spencer’s album. I wouldn’t have know it was released. Looking forward to listening to it today!
This is my first lent I am actually giving something up: social media. Replacing it with reading books.
Also I decided to download an app called Lectio 365 and going through their Lent prayer series. Two days in and I am appreciating what these two changes have done to my headspace. Yesterday was about pain and light.
Thanks for the writing. Always enjoy your reflections.
Wonderful words about Spenser’s music and life. I love this too “But it’s also a choice: “I don’t have capacity for animosity with my well-intentioned past. I can’t entertain resentment for it.” Me too. No room for that.
And yes we are in the midst of that beautiful grey snow too Fozzie. And Diana Bass Butler said she once gave up lent for lent. So maybe that’s what I’ll call it. Although her words about practicing our faith has stuck with me. Do whatever Jeff knowing that you are blessing the little part we of the world that you touch.
This reflection - " Turn a mirror toward a different person, and it creates a different reflection. Every songwriter must reckon with the reality that each listener will bring their own experience and their distinct ear. “I have to let people love what they love for whatever reason they love it," resonates so deeply with me as a poet. I had to learn this lesson too. I keep learning it. I think about being present in the emptiness/loneliness of being an artist sometimes too. I suppose in this mirror of an essay I also see how loneliness as a writer welcomes others inside of the things and thoughts we make
I think this is also a very beautiful entryway to being new and renewed by art/past and present lives: “I don’t have capacity for animosity with my well-intentioned past. I can’t entertain resentment for it.” I adore this mindset that Spencer holds. So much to carry with me from this, thanks for this offering.
Thank you for the recommendation and lovely walk through Spencer LaJoye's new album, and for passing along the gorgeous prayer from Kate Bowler. I'll have to wait until Sundays to listen to the album, however, because my Lenten practice for the last couple of years has been listening to only instrumental music. I got the idea because I was feeling the need to quiet outside voices for just a bit and just listen for God and my own inner voice. It's not easy, but I do find myself more in touch with my thoughts and emotions (which is not always comfortable, but good.) I also find myself singing a great deal, which is always nice and often interesting to find your voice and the songs that come out of your heart naturally in different moments. I will say that Alexis Ffrench has become a favorite Lenten companion and I heard about him from you, so thanks!
Someday You'll Wake Up Okay is such a beautiful, encouraging song. I love that poem. I'm navigating quite a difficult season now and I guess Lent is a time for me to rest. I struggle with feeling often like I'm doing the wrong thing. If I'm writing, I should be cleaning. If I'm cleaning, I should be working on something else. I'm trying to silence the voices of shame and to just do what I want in that moment. I guess it doesn't sound so sacrificial but it is somehow healing.
Hi Sharon (and I hope you are seeing this — I find this part of Substack confusing!) Thanks for connecting! I’m well, retired now (those two things are related, no doubt!), and enjoying this new phase. Are you still in State College? Hope you are well!
What a beautiful person! I so admire the acceptance of their past self: no “capacity for animosity.” I guess I still have quite a large capacity for animosity.
For lent I will have a weekly phone sabbath: Fridays at sundown to Sunday morning service. I feel the internet keeps me distracted more than anything else at this point.
This is a great review. I will check this album out over the weekend, and share with a few folks who might be interested.
My lenten Disciplines are going old school this year:
1. Fasting from- Sweets. It has been a long time since I've done a physical fast and yesterday was enough to prove this was the right choice. Lots of opportunity to lean on Jesus. The lenten devotional I'm using is focusing on how to forgive people/institutions/situations. And on Day 1 my unsugared soul revealed *several* areas where I could maybe (ok definitely) work on forgiveness. Yikes.
2. Feasting on - Snail mail cards and letters for no occasion than just to say hello. I've got all this fun stationary I never use. People could use more than election flyers, yes? One note per day.
Thanks for sharing Spencer's beautiful music. 😍
Thanks for the write up on Spencer’s album. I wouldn’t have know it was released. Looking forward to listening to it today!
This is my first lent I am actually giving something up: social media. Replacing it with reading books.
Also I decided to download an app called Lectio 365 and going through their Lent prayer series. Two days in and I am appreciating what these two changes have done to my headspace. Yesterday was about pain and light.
Thanks for the writing. Always enjoy your reflections.
Wonderful words about Spenser’s music and life. I love this too “But it’s also a choice: “I don’t have capacity for animosity with my well-intentioned past. I can’t entertain resentment for it.” Me too. No room for that.
And yes we are in the midst of that beautiful grey snow too Fozzie. And Diana Bass Butler said she once gave up lent for lent. So maybe that’s what I’ll call it. Although her words about practicing our faith has stuck with me. Do whatever Jeff knowing that you are blessing the little part we of the world that you touch.
This reflection - " Turn a mirror toward a different person, and it creates a different reflection. Every songwriter must reckon with the reality that each listener will bring their own experience and their distinct ear. “I have to let people love what they love for whatever reason they love it," resonates so deeply with me as a poet. I had to learn this lesson too. I keep learning it. I think about being present in the emptiness/loneliness of being an artist sometimes too. I suppose in this mirror of an essay I also see how loneliness as a writer welcomes others inside of the things and thoughts we make
I think this is also a very beautiful entryway to being new and renewed by art/past and present lives: “I don’t have capacity for animosity with my well-intentioned past. I can’t entertain resentment for it.” I adore this mindset that Spencer holds. So much to carry with me from this, thanks for this offering.
Thank you for the recommendation and lovely walk through Spencer LaJoye's new album, and for passing along the gorgeous prayer from Kate Bowler. I'll have to wait until Sundays to listen to the album, however, because my Lenten practice for the last couple of years has been listening to only instrumental music. I got the idea because I was feeling the need to quiet outside voices for just a bit and just listen for God and my own inner voice. It's not easy, but I do find myself more in touch with my thoughts and emotions (which is not always comfortable, but good.) I also find myself singing a great deal, which is always nice and often interesting to find your voice and the songs that come out of your heart naturally in different moments. I will say that Alexis Ffrench has become a favorite Lenten companion and I heard about him from you, so thanks!
Someday You'll Wake Up Okay is such a beautiful, encouraging song. I love that poem. I'm navigating quite a difficult season now and I guess Lent is a time for me to rest. I struggle with feeling often like I'm doing the wrong thing. If I'm writing, I should be cleaning. If I'm cleaning, I should be working on something else. I'm trying to silence the voices of shame and to just do what I want in that moment. I guess it doesn't sound so sacrificial but it is somehow healing.
Hi Sharon (and I hope you are seeing this — I find this part of Substack confusing!) Thanks for connecting! I’m well, retired now (those two things are related, no doubt!), and enjoying this new phase. Are you still in State College? Hope you are well!
This sounds like an amazing album— I will definitely check it out!