Photo A Day for Lent: Alone

This is a picture of the table where I’ve been sitting, alone, nearly every morning of Lent.

(Photo-bombed by Sam, I’ll just mention.)

I did not really plan to do it, but starting with Ash Wednesday, I’ve woken up around 5:00 a.m. nearly every morning, come to this table with various forms of Scripture and devotional aids in hand (laptop, kindle, prayer book, Bible), and sat, alone for an hour.

Here’s what I usually do:

Read the “Rethink Church” blog for the day.

Read the daily scriptures using my prayer book and Bible or the PC(USA)’s daily lectionary site.

Check Google Reader or Feedly and catch up on the blogs I’ve been reading during Lent. Some notables:

• Taking A Break From Civilization As We Know It–my friend, Adam, has had some fantastic insights during the Photo a Day project.
• I have several friends who are tweeting their photos every day, and I think I’ll share some of my favorites of theirs after Lent, but Michelle is creatively capturing pictures daily in a cool format.
• My friend, A Williams, has been writing a new hymn every day for Lent. I’ve been inspired by his dedication and creativity, not to mention talent at putting words and tunes together.
• I’ve liked Donald Miller for a long time, but I’ve been especially tuning into his Storyline Blog during Lent.
• Rachel Held Evans has had some fantastic posts lately (well, always, actually).
• Red Letter Christians is a blog I’ve always loved, but have been reading daily during Lent.

Check Tweetdeck and Facebook to see what’s up with my loved ones near and far. And to satisfy both an addiction and a need to know what people are talking about.

Read from my Kindle. Here are some books I’ve been reading:

• “Torn” by Justin Lee (Seriously, read this book and be challenged one way or the other.)
• “Lamb” by Christopher Moore (Not for the faint of heart, but I love it.)
• “From Each Brave Eye” by Tom Trinidad, Meredith A. Holladay, Katie Mulligan and Timothy W. Ross

Through all of this, I find myself praying–for myself, for my loved ones, for people I don’t even know but have read about.

All of this causes me to realize that although I’ve been alone, I’ve not been alone. I’ve read words written by authors from ancient times and modern times; I’ve shared this journey with blog readers as well as these wonderful blog writers; I’ve traveled with people I admire and love; I’ve prayed for and with people who are sitting at another table.

Thanks for sharing this Lenten road with me!