Tag: dailyprompt

The Anchorage

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What do you love about where you live?
View all responses

I live in a place that is named, “The Anchorage”. And the short answer is, “I love everything about this place”. The location is great, the house is the right size for me, it is the right “style”, and I feel called to live there. This house has a place for my books and a special place where I pray. It is close enough to everything that I do not need to drive but can walk.

The longer answer: I think (hmmm?!) I have a vocation to the “enclosed solitary life”. That is, I live my vocation in one place. Enclosure can be understood very legalisticly – a border that I cannot cross. Or it can be understood as the place where a vocation is. This house is my vocation. And I love that!!!! I do not need to go outside to fulfil my vocation – my vocation is not elsewhere. I am called to be here.

Gratitude

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment

What positive emotion do you feel most often?

There is only one option for me: gratitude.

I am thankful to all the people who help me everyday (who pray for me), for the parish that has given me a place to live (to fulfil a vocation), and the many other things that I do not deserve but are still part of my life.

this answer is very unique

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What is a word you feel that too many people use?
View all responses

While I have a “philosophical issue” with language, I dislike how people use the word “unique”. And especially how sometimes people say “very unique”, “extremely unique”, or some other superlative qualifying “unique”.

A word I feel people use too much is “surreal”.

2 s

~ a solitary ~ 1 Comment

What brings you peace?

Solitude and silence. Not the absence of people or noise. But openness to presence and a willingness to listen.

I have created (with the help of faithful friends) a context in which I can live this peace. So the context – the place – is the real source of my peace. I feel called to a place. I feel the absence of this place.

Anyway …

Bookshop with tea

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?
View all responses

I would open a bookshop which also serves various types of tea.

The books would be a range but, maybe, more existentialist. Maybe some Kierkegaard, Kafka, and Camus? The tea would be Russian! Or some Earl Gray. Leafs only. There would be afternoons for people to discuss ideas – any idea! Tea, books, and real conversation.

words and silence

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What are you curious about?
View all responses

My day is largely in silence. Yes, I listen to music and the radio (for the news). But there are long periods of silence. (I also read books etc but in silence.)

One thing that has made me curious about this context is how we see language. Or, how metaphor and language interact. Augustine wrote about language before he wrote about Christianity. But we seem to think that we can simply march past the problem and declare absolutely what is (and what is not) a relationship with God.

I have no answers and maybe there isn’t one. But I am curious!

rise

~ a solitary ~ 1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
Describe one habit that brings you joy.
View all responses

This may sound a little strange – and, well, it is. I like to get up early. I mean really early. Currently, my alarm is set for 4:30 am. Often I am awake before it.

Why so early? I have found that it offers me time for mental prayer. And it provides me silence. I have a cup of tea in darkness without the possibility of interruption. I say Morning Prayer at 5:30 am and listen to the 6:00 am ABC News. And then my day starts!

It is something to which I look forward. It is a habit that brings me much joy.

Measure and create

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What would you change about modern society?
View all responses

Let me preface this by saying I am no philosopher, theologian, or sociologist.

I think “modern society” lives with the belief that “if I can measure it, I can create it”. The problem is that it is somewhat true. Yes, physical things can certainly be measured and then created. But what about things like beauty, community, fellowship, or love? Can I measure these and then create them?

The church is not immune. Sometimes people preach a gospel of “let’s do it”. All of that is fine without any thought to sin. God creates community and fellowship by His presence, as He does beauty, not by our agreeing with each other or being “nice”.

So what would I change: the certainty that it is within human reach to create everything.

Anyway …

sleep?

~ a solitary ~ Leave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
View all responses

I have not answered one of these for some time.

I normally wake at 5ish. Yes, I am a morning person. I have not used an alarm clock in a long time, and I do not use my phone. I simply wake naturally at about the same time. At the moment it is still dark and very cold. Heater on and make a cup of tea.

I either listen to the news or just pray. Sometimes I try to plan my day but it never works out. I try to be ready for my day by 6. I stay in my “bedroom”, which is also my main room, to pray and enjoy a cup of tea. I love watching the sun rise over the water. There is a “no rush” attitude for my mornings.

When do I go to bed? When the sun goes down it is time for bed, as my grandmother used to say. I try to stay in a natural rhythm with the sun. I try to pray a little and then sleep.