Tent Thoughts

Right now, it is an unpleasant fact. We celebrate more funerals than weddings. Both my husband and I have commented frequently on this of late. This is partly due to our age/stage in life but does not make the fact any easier to accept. These passings serve as poignant reminders that both our bodies and our time on earth are temporal. 

Within a short month, our Dwight parish has lost four current/former parishioners, one of which was a very dear friend of mine. I was able to attend the first three funeral Masses and was grateful for the food for thought I found in the homilies given by our then-interim pastor, Father Gregory.

At one celebration of life, the family chose a reading from 2 Corinthians 5. The first verse reads, “For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.”

Old Testament Scripture has numerous references to tents. A tent is a nomadic dwelling, just the thing for our OT ancestors who frequently moved around for various reasons: to pasture their flocks, to hunt for food and water, or sometimes just to avoid hostile inhabitants. Often, they were searching for a permanent place to call home. 

I recently came across a definition for the Biblical meaning of pitching a tent—it is God’s invitation to envision and imagine a life-giving way to wander this world. Even if we remain in the same town, state, or home where we grew up, that spiritual part of us will, and should, be continually wandering and searching for the best way to “pitch our tents.” 

Tents are temporary shelters, not meant to last. Some may disagree with me, but tents are not what I would consider a comfortable place to spend much time. I guess there is good reason for being uncomfortable in our own tent/skin. Funerals can be special wake-up calls: time to acknowledge that we are on a journey where someday our current tent will no longer provide the shelter we need.

Like a tent, our bodies are insecure dwellings, buffeted by the winds of life, easily damaged, permeable to the elements. Certainly not a fit dwelling for our Lord and Savior. But God sees something different. He chose each of us as a beautiful dwelling place for his Son. And like it or not, our tent-selves do wander this world…searching for that permanent home with God. 

During the special time of desert-wandering and re-evaluating that begins next Wednesday, I feel the need to focus on readying my inner very personal and most powerful dwelling place. Please join me in opening the flaps of our tents and our hearts to meet and welcome the Lord this Lent.

Attached below is a litany of one-liner prayers from Sister Joyce Rupp for each day of Lent. Feel free to use or not use, for yourself and/or with others.

Blessings on your Lenten journey.

“A Graced Heart in Lent”, Joyce Rupp

In the Judaic tradition, heart is the crucible of a person’s true essence. (Gail Godwin)

1. Return my heart when it is lost.

2. Warm my heart when it is cold.

3. Embrace my heart when it is lonely.

4. Strengthen my heart when it is weak.

5. Widen my heart when it is narrow.

6. Rest my heart when it is weary.

7. Open my heart when it is closed.

8. Caution my heart when it is careless.

9. Straighten my heart when it is crooked.

10. Soften my heart when it is hard.

11. Enlighten my heart when it is searching.

12. Repair my heart when it is broken.

13. Call home my heart when it is straying.

14. Relieve my heart when it is burdened.

15. Engage my heart when it is bored.

16. Direct my heart when it is disoriented.

17. Quiet my heart when it is wrestling.

18. Console my heart when it is sorrowful.

19. Unloosen my heart when it is controlling.

20. Calm my heart when it is anxious.

21. Entice my heart when it is distracted.

22. Ration my heart when it is greedy.

23. Focus my heart when it is blurred.

24. Encourage my heart when it is dejected.

25. Restore my heart when it is faltering.

26. Beckon my heart when it is exiled.

27. Heal my heart when it is ailing.

28. Peace my heart when it is troubled.

29. Nurture my heart when it is empty.

30. Raise my heart when it is downcast.

31. Urge my heart when it is hesitant.

32. Expand my heart when it is withered.

33. Nurture my heart when it is depleted.

34. Embolden my heart when it is fearful.

35. Tame my heart when it is uncontrolled.

36. Soothe my heart when it is fretting.

37. Revive my heart when it is parched.

38. Assure my heart when it is hesitant.

39. Gentle my heart when it is harsh.

40. Welcome my heart when it is returning.

Easter - Rejoice my heart when it is ready.