E056 Rev. Anne Anderson Chats About Lent

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 56
Date: February 21, 2023

Participants: John Webster, Julie Wilson, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Rev. Anne Anderson

Start times and Segments:

[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: Julie and John talk about how little water we need when we’re forced by circumstances to ration it. It reminds us to use less in everyday life to help the environment.

[0:9:30] Expanding Minds Interview: [Sprititual Wellness] We interview Rev. Anne Anderson in our effort to speak with people of different religions, outlooks and beliefs and open eyes to the things we share in common. Rev. Anne chats about Lent and things people do to celebrate it. This year Lent runs from Feb 22 to Apr 6. Lent means lengthening in old English. It recalls the lengthening of days as days get longer as we enter Spring. In times past, it was preparation time for Easter, when there were traditionally lots of baptisms. Many people think about repentance – turning away from things that are not good. Others focus on new growth, which echoes hope. There’s more to it than fasting or giving up things we like for a time. Some people take something on (like a new practice), or give their time, or donate to a charity, or do something for themselves. It’s often rooted in practice, like reading a devotion, spending more intentional time in prayer or silence or mediation. There are many ways to approach it.

[0:23:57] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Second-guessing during songwriting leads to a graveyard of unfinished songs. Cameron is making progress getting over it, then get past that sequence.

[0:28:54] Move That Body: It’s great when you get to use your favourite machine at the gym.

[0:33:06] Running Popup: John got hit by negative thoughts, getting bummed out by the polarization he sees in our world.

[0:37:01] Flipside of the Coin: We’re in wedding prep mode for a son. We chat about what we’re up to and remember a speech at our own wedding that should never have been made.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

John – Environmental wellness is an important contributing factor to my overall wellness. I’ve become passionate about it. I believe that if we are not past the point of no return, then we are right on the edge. We must protect the planet we are living on.

John – Watching the show “How the Universe Works” made me realize how unbelievably unique the earth is. It’s an unbelievable combination of factors that makes our planet livable. We need to appreciate how lucky we are to be on this planet. Let’s not blow it.

Rev. Anne – Lent means lengthening in old English. It recalls the lengthening of days. We’re getting into Spring and our days are getting longer. It was also the preparation time historically for Easter. People would prepare for baptism. On the eve of Easter there traditionally a new fire, a great big celebration and lots of baptisms.

Rev. Anne – Sometimes people give up something for Lent. Some people take something on. They might take on a new practice, or they decide to do something for the 40 days. I’ve heard of people putting a box in their house and they declutter 40 things, one every day, or they give 40 things to a food bank – one every of the 40 days of lent. It’s often rooted in practice: reading a devotion or spending more intentional time in prayer or silence or meditation.

Rev. Anne – A devotion is a short reading that might be focused on a text, or a series of texts, and might ask a question or to journal after you’ve read it. It might provide a prayer that’s centered on the reading. You read something and then do an act to accompany it. There are many ways to do it.

Rev. Anne – In connection with Lent, many people talk about repentance, so turning from ways that are not healthy or good. To repent is to turn. That is definitely an overarching theme for many folks, along with reflection. Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of folks focusing on new growth. I’m really excited to hear people connect Lent with new growth. For me it echoes Spring and hope. Easter brings a wide-open hope. Lent brings almost like tiny shoots of hope.

Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Sheila: You’re just like uuuurrrrghhh, that is so bad.

Guest Information: Reverend Anne Anderson is a Community Pastor at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ontario. Reverend Anne pastors a community called thirdspace_. She’s a mom to two fantastic kids, a partner to a great husband and a student. She’s a Phd Candidate in Human Relationships, specializing in Pastoral Leadership. She’s researching transformational leadership and emergent faith communities. A current focus is food insecurity and students during the pandemic. She calls Waterloo home and has been grateful to travel and work in the U.S., UK and Africa over the years. She loves to read and play music and do boot camp with great friends.

Thirdspace_ website: https://luther.wlu.ca/worship-and-music/thirdspace.html

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila and Julie

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E057 Hooriya Rizwan Multitasks at University

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E055 Jason Schreurs Punk Rock and Mental Health