Lent and Lectio Divina

this morning i got up at the crack of dawn (like I always do, haha)... and started a 40 day journey of LENT... I know most of you are thinking, "WHAT? isn't that a catholic thing?" and I answer "I don't know, is driving a car, a Ford thing?" Maybe to some of you it is... But I currently am driving a beat up, run down, piece of junk, Chevy thing... Not that I am saying that my church is any reflection of the Chevy I drive... It's not... but i am just trying to say that LENT is a christian thing... and just because your church doesn't participate in a certain activity, it doesn't always mean that the said activity is void of any real spiritual meaning...

anyway I had heard about lent before and I was very intrigued by the idea... I had done a little research into it but I had never really participated in it... Until now... My good friend, Matthew Polley (which no one is to refer to him Matthew, besides me), has organized a small group of people at my church to participate in Lent...

SO WHEN THE HECK IS LENT?
Lent is the 40 day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the 40 days (this making it a total of 46 days), because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 1 March 2006 and ends on 15 April 2006, (which is the day before Easter).

SO WHAT THE HECK IS LENT?
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the 40 days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days. These 40 days are marked by giving something up. Something that usually takes some sacrifice.

SO WHAT THE HECK AM I GIVING UP?
One of my all time favorite things. Sleeping in. DUN DUN-DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN... TRUST ME when I say that that is a HUGE sacrifice... and in line with the observation of lent I am also recognizing another ancient spiritual practice... Drinking coffee... haha actually I am practicing Lectio Divina...

SO WHAT THE HECK IS LECTIO DIVINA?
Lectio Divina is latin for divine reading. It is a very ancient art, which is a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. A way to dwell with God. It has 4 main stages. Lectio (reading/listening), Meditatio (meditation), Oratio (prayer), Contemplatio (contemplation)... Each one of these stages has separate segments and activities to fulfill each stage.

SO WHERE THE HECK DID LECTIO DIVINA COME FROM?
The practice of Lectio Divina dates back almost 18 centuries to a young Egyptian man called Anthony of the Desert (251-356). He was basically a hardcore follower of Christ who sold everything he owned and took off into the desert. And that is where he lived in solitude for the rest of his life. His only nourishment was bread and water, which he only ate after sunset every 3 or 4 days. The only thing he wore was a sack cloth and sheepskin. And the only thing he did from sunset to sunrise is pray. Believe it or not, when other people heard of his life in silence and solitude they actually thought it sounded like a good idea. An entire monastic community sprang up in the desert under the instruction and encouragement of Anthony and a few other "desert dwellers". They were all looking to get away from the same things we struggle with wealth, lust, greed, success, popularity, etc.

For more information on Lectio Divina check out
http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html

if you are wanting a kick start in Lectio Divina buy
"Enjoy the Silence" by Maggie and Duffy Robbins

Excerpts taken from
www.kencollins.com
www.valyermo.com
Enjoy the Silence by Maggie and Duffy Robbins