"I Signed the Book of the Dead?!"
A Lenten Wake-Up Call

'Stories and Other Things Holy' Episode 22:

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Lent—Another Mystery—For Dod’s sake—And for Our Sake—and for the World’s Sake: Literally!

One of Lent’s Jobs—God Bless Her—is to encourage, cajole, challenge, seduce, invite . . . provoke us into Re-Membering our mortality.

On the surface, this might appear to be a very simple and straightforward assignment! But truth be told, it’s a full-time, demanding task—with no guarantee of success. So many factors, for so many reasons, conspire to have us deny, run away from, and ignore one of the most certain, tender, vulnerable, and powerful realities of our incarnate lives: We Will Die. We will be asked to—and then life will demand that we relinquish, surrender, let go of, you know—EVERYTHING.

This reality, obviously, can be extremely scary and disorienting—thus the invitation to deny and outrun death: eat a lot of tofu and salmon, get a lot of second opinions. And—there is another angle from which we can approach this certain reality. What if, awkwardly and imperfectly, we allow the prospect of our certain death to be our primary spiritual exercise? Those familiar with this route report that awareness of our mortality “puts all other realities in perspective.” Awareness of our mortality can, counterintuitively, lead to a profound sense of freedom. Knowing our time is limited, one way or the other, can imbue a deep and abiding conviction that all is precious—Every. Day. Minute. Hour. . . . Second—Precious.

Sign me up—so to speak.

- Terry Nelson-Johnson

GRACERCISES

Here are three prayer-prompts to accompany this episode and reflection, designed to help you enter into prayer and personal renewal:

1. Embracing Every Moment​
​“In the face of our fleeting time, may I see every second as a precious gift.”

• Sit quietly and breathe slowly, imagining each breath as a reminder of life’s transience.
• Reflect on one moment today that felt truly precious.
• In prayer, thank God for that moment and ask for the grace to cherish every heartbeat, recognizing that each is a step on this sacred journey.

2. Pre-Registering Our Mortality​
​“I pre-register for life, knowing that embracing our end can deepen our love for every beginning.”

• Meditate on the idea that acknowledging our mortality is not morbid but a profound spiritual exercise.
• Invite God into your reflection by saying, “Help me see the beauty in my impermanence and live with intention, fully aware of life’s fragile wonder.”
• Write down one way this awareness can transform your daily living and let it guide your actions with gratitude.

3. Surrender and Celebrate​
​“I surrender my fears and celebrate the gift of life, trusting in a divine plan beyond my understanding.”

• Close your eyes and envision letting go of all that weighs you down—the worries, the need for control, the inevitable losses.
• In a quiet prayer, ask for the strength to release these attachments and to embrace vulnerability as a doorway to freedom.
• Conclude by affirming, “May every day be a celebration of life, where even in facing the end, I find joy, hope, and a deep connection with the sacred.”

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Each of these practices is an invitation to be present—to let God meet you in your vulnerability, renew your spirit, and remind you that your true identity is found in love. Enjoy this time of connection and reflection.