Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches.

Agenda:

1. Nature Mentor

2. Resilience Practice

3. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

4. Make tyropita (cheese pie)

5. Plastic fast, Week 2 - Food shopping

1. Nature Mentor: 

Today I watched the 4th video in the Nature Mentor's Bird Language video series, called Five Steps For Going Deep Into ​The ​World of Bird Language. Brian is so excited to explain how learning to understand bird language will help you become aware of the harmonious life of nature all around you, live in a more sensitive way, and create a better world. He has an infectious enthusiasm!

He also has an online course he calls the Bird Language Blueprint, and these are some of the steps he covers in that course:

1. How to choose the best birds to study, that will give you the most information without overwhelming you.
2. How to find good locations to practice, including your backyard.
3. How to be stealthy and not cause alarms.

2. Resilience practice: 

I'm reading from the book, "101 Mindful Ways to Build Resilience," by Donald Altman, which offers simple ideas for being more rooted in my body and mind. Practice #5 is to Tone Up Your Vagus Nerve. 

The vagus nerve runs up the inside of your spine, and its purpose is to regulate and relax you. You can actually learn how to activate it either before or after times of stress.

1. Bring the palms of your hands together in front of your chest, and notice the warmth between them for a moment or two, to get centered.
2. Take a big inhale into your belly as you slowly open both arms outward.
3. When arms are spread open to the max, hold your breath for a count of two.
4. Then slowly release all your breath with a count of four, as you move your palms back together.
5. Repeat 3-5 times.

3. Ask for forgiveness and offer forgiveness: 

The traditional theme of the Lenten fast is repentance and reconciliation with God. The Eastern Orthodox Church reminds us that we can't have that without first being reconciled with one another. Tonight they have a special Forgiveness Vespers, and at the end everyone takes part in the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness - each person will bow down, first before the priest, and then each other, asking, “Forgive me, a sinner” and the proper response is “God forgives you”.

Each person asks forgiveness from, and offers forgiveness to, each other person, then exchanges the kiss of peace.

Quakers don't go in for any kind of ceremony, but I can imagine that it's a powerful moment. Wesley J. Smith says, "The service is a healing balm. It is hard to bear grudges when all have shared such an intimate mutual humbling. Indeed, Forgiveness Vespers is emotionally intense, tears often flow and hugs of true reconciliation are common."

As a Quaker, I have had to figure out simple ways to ask for and offer forgiveness and feel that humbling moment, and I do it as often as I can, with honest words, a note, or a silent prayer.

Today I'll open to a deeper awareness of how my judgements and prejudices affect my ability to be rooted and grounded in Love, Truth, and Creation. I offer this prayer:

I ask for forgiveness from those I've hurt, and I offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me - and to those who hurt the earth. In asking and offering forgiveness, I hope to be able to release this burden of shame, indignation, and fear, and move on with resilience.

4. Make tyropita (cheese pie):

Forgiveness Sunday is also known as Cheesefare Sunday. Today is the last day that dairy products are permitted in the Orthodox Church.  Sweet or savory cheese pies are popular traditional Greek foods today.

This recipe is pretty easy to make, and very, very rich and good. You can use your favorite cheeses and herbs, and either store-bought puff pastry or home-made pie pastry. The recipe is here.

5. Plastic fast, Week 2 - Food shopping:

Much plastic waste is created in the packaging of foods. When we shop, we find shrink-wrapped cucumbers, meat bundled up in Styrofoam, and plastic jugs of milk. In order to avoid plastic packaging from food and drinks, some research and planning ahead is required. 

Buying in bulk is one way to reduce single-use plastics, especially for foods like pasta, rice, nuts, and beans (often packaged in plastic bags), and oils and nut butters (often in plastic jars). Think about the stores you can go to that provide staples in bulk; do you know which ones will allow you to bring your own jars and containers to refill? 

Add glass jars and re-usable plastic containers to your zero waste shopping kit (and remember to ask for the tare weight).