Third Sunday of Lent

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I spend time each day in focused study and prayer, and then take action to bring my vision to fruition.

My theme this year for Lent is Active Hope and Resilience: 

Active Hope requires that I maintain a clear view of reality; identify what I hope for - the direction I’d like things to move in and the values I'd like to express; and take steps to move in that direction.

Resilience is a set of practical skills that allow me to be strong, flexible, creative, hopeful, and positive, and to successfully adapt to stressors, and bounce back from difficult experiences.

Agenda:

1. Read Everyday Simplicity
2. Simple food plan

3. Make cheese spread
4. Spring cleaning

1. Read "Everyday Simplicity":

I bought myself this little book, by Robert J. Wicks (2000), as a birthday treat. The subtitle is: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth.

Chapter 7 is Remembering, the 5th of eight themes that will help us to "soften our souls and allow us to experience and share the gift of God in simple ways during the day". Here he is talking about recognizing the continuity in my spiritual life.

"Spiritual remembering ... involves gratefully recalling the past moments of epiphany or dramatic awakening in life so that we can muster the courage and perspective to continue seeking God and God's will."

Practice for this section: Remember and list out the moments when I felt inspired by love and Light; rest in the awareness that Love is faithful.

This morning as I went out at dawn to let the ducks out, I was greeted by the cheerful call of a robin, a clear memory of the spring days of my youth; may the bird calls I hear be a reminder of the faithfulness of Spirit in my life. 

2. Simple foods plan: 

I'm fasting from anything processed (packaged cookies, crackers, pasta, candy, canned goods, frozen dinners) as much as possible, and that means I need to cook and bake my own snacks. This week my snack-making plan is:

• Sunday: Make crackers and cheese spread
• Monday: Make yogurt
• Tuesday: Make a green smoothie
• Wednesday: Make granola bars
• Thursday: Make birthday cupcakes
• Friday: Make cookies
• Saturday: Make hummus

3. Make cheese spread:

Last week I some very nice garlic crackers, and I'm going to try them again, with some whole grain and a different seasoning; plus I'll make more of this wonderful cheese spread.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. feta cheese
• 3/4 c. whole milk Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• garlic powder
• red pepper flakes

Put all the ingredients into a bowl (or In a food processor, if you prefer) ad mash and mix together until smooth and creamy. (I made a half recipe, and used soft feta, so it was easy to make by hand.)

4. Spring cleaning:

In January I cleaned mold and mildew. In February I cleared clutter. In March I take the first steps of spring cleaning and maintenance, those big jobs that get put off through the winter months. This week my focus is in the bedrooms - cleaning the filter on the heat pump, and cleaning the windows outside and in.