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| Saturday, February 02, 2008 |
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Drop Those Balls - A Lenten Practice
By webmaster @ 7:00 AM :: 201 Views ::
1 Comments :: Nina Frost
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Two Fridays ago I totally forgot about the blog, until after the deadline to post it. Of course, the world went on, but I felt terrible about it, and chagrined that a multi-tasking day had claimed this particular casualty.
In essence, I love the blog, and I forgot the blog. There’s the rub. This, of course, translates into many other things, people, and responsibilities… I care, I do, and yet… oops. More ensuing guilt. More running around after the dropped balls scooting all over the place.
Anyone else out there, in this new year, wrestling with this?
The problem is common; what are the solutions? St. Paul joins me in this lament, when he writes about how he doesn’t understand why he does the things he should not do, and does not do the things he knows he should. Another ball dropper. Another human being.
But this is not just about too long to-do lists. When I space out on something, what is my unconscious trying to tell me? When I say yes to something when I really mean no, why am I surprised when I later follow through half-heartedly? As Jesus reminds us: “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” Great advice; hard for me to do, as I am more comfortable seeing nuance, splitting hairs, doing a both/and rather than the plain, sane either/or he is advocating.
In a recent interview in Faith at Work magazine, author Brian McLaren (latest book: “Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises and A Revolution of Hope”; see also www.deepshift.org) talks about dropped balls as a natural consequence of a full life, a life of many loves, many commitments. This felt very forgiving to read, a way to cut ourselves a little slack, not dwell on it, and go back out there, loving, fulfilling, trying our best.
At the same time, it feels some binding non-resolutions are also called for in this still-new year: Rather than adding to your to-do list of resolutions, what do you want to take away? What has outlived its usefulness? What needs to be a dropped ball—even a ball you punt away, with abandon—and relief?
Think about that piece—which could be a large part of who you used to be—and prayerfully offer it to God. And… welcome to Lent, which starts next week. You are already doing the work of that season. More on that next week. Amen to your dropped balls! |
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 By
dryon @
Sunday, February 03, 2008 3:39 PM
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I always think of Buckminster Fuller who solved the problem by sleeping less....
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Welcome to MarbleTalks, a weblog published by the ministers and staff of Marble Collegiate Church. If you're unfamiliar with blogs, this short primer will help get you up to speed.
What is a Blog?
MarbleTalks provides a forum for each of our ministers and various staff members to share their thoughts, questions, and experiences with our faith community. Contributors to the blog will use a wide variety of sources for inspiration, and may share those sources when possible. Blogs are built around the active participation of their readers, and will commonly encourage you to take action in your life and the world around you.
Publishing Schedule:
| Sun. |
Dr. Caliandro |
| Mon. |
Sister Carol Perry |
| Tues. |
Dr. Lutz |
| Wed. |
Rev. Funderburke |
| Thur. |
Rev. Jordan |
| Fri. |
Rev. Lewicki |
| Sat. |
Nina Frost |
| Sat. |
Dr. Killinger |
Reading Our Blog:
New articles will go up every day, and we hope you'll check in regularly. The seven most recent posts are displayed on this main page. Each article contains a short description and a link to read the full text. If you'd like to go back and read previous entries you missed, click on the "Categories" link at the top of the page and then select the author you're interested in. We don't delete old articles, so you'll be able to come back anytime and re-read the ones that speak to you in significant ways.
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