3 - oblation

I had a few hopes.
1) to take a picture at work. it was too warm a day to have a picture after dark.
2) i happened across a stray cat, casually cleaning itself by the alley behind our house. she did not have the mangy, wild-eyed and desperate demeanor of street-cats. she was comfortable, maternal, content.

I ended with this little clip because one of my favorite things about spring is when the dark comforts of home slowly transform to a place where the warmth continues instead of a safe haven carved out of the deep, dark, cold. So before these flowers die, here is a little fresh maker.

2 - penitence

Although this seems gloomy, this auto repair shop nests inside of a building with a colorful, polka-dotted mural on it. On this warmish night, Michael and I were able to take an evening walk in blue light and this grimy reminder of the ubiquitous dirty-nails of spring offered some cold comfort.

1. thanksgiving

I'm not trying to be silly. There's a lot of white in our house and at night it turns into a lot of outlines and shadows. I know that little light is close and growing stronger. The last light of the evenings loses its air of sad settling defeat. I imagine the sun has been asleep or sick and must slowly regain its strength. If the sun had a face it would not be smiling yet but there would be a little gleam in its eye, calling "tomorrow I will try to stay a little longer." And in the morning I feel those rays - its long arms - straining for hours. Without faltering, the slow rise grows until it manages to crest the horizon. It's a small sliver, but it's bright.

I am really not this much of a hippie and don't think the sun is a person. It's a metaphor for hope, people. And a fact of the life.

introduction

1. Two years ago, my early morning caffeine binges somehow inspired me to write a poem each day during Holy Week.
2. Last year I gave up coffee for lent.
3. Today, I couldn't decide between taking daily photos with written reflection or giving up internet use at home.
4. I am tired of talking too much and need to temper my mouth by using my hands (a slower tool and one more prone to editing).
   

Last week at Episcopal class our rector, Alan, suggested practising a Lenten prayer cycle framed around the seven purposes of prayer laid out in the catechism. Ok, so I don't know about lent or prayer or the catechism but I do love patterns and cycles. It works out that there are 7 purposes of prayer and the 7th is corporate worship, which can be celebrated on Sundays. The structure was too neat for me to deny. I've decided to do early morning holy writing while mindful of these purposes of prayer. The question still remains, I suppose: what the hll is this blog?

I just wanted to do something else. I still want to take a picture every day. I can't tell if this blog is more about lent or waiting for the spring everyday or if those are the same thing. Anyhows, in each entry you will find: 1) a picture taken that day and 2) some kind of message about the photo or how dark it is and quiet and 3) a mention of lent or prayer.

I can't solicit any questions because I don't have any readers. How perfectly convenient for me.