Day 67
Lent is almost over. Usually during Lent Ang and I read devotionals every night before bed. This year we have been off for some reason. We still read the devotional, but usually at work or while waiting somewhere in line or in a waiting room. I hate waiting in lines, makes me feel like cattle. Lent is that season that in a weird way, I love. I have never understood why I love it so much. This is the death of Christ I should be mourning and sad. For some reason I have been more interested in the days leading the crucifixion and the resurrection. Even from when I was a kid going to a catholic school (even though we weren't Catholic) I looked forward to giving something up for 40 days and waiting for Charlton Heston on the CBS Sunday night movie. Some of the best movies come out at Easter time. Our Pastor watches Chocolat every Lenten season. I never thought about it as a Lent movie because it didn't involve a famous 60's or 70's actor in robe and tassels, but it is totally a Lent movie. The entire movie takes place during Lent and is about temptation. Pastor Boles talks about this every year during Lent so Ang and I came home, watch it and loved it all over again.
The Lenten Season is about temptation, faith, helping others, forgiveness, sacrifice and starting fresh. Jesus had a forty day journey in which he was tested, tested and tested again. He did not give in to those temptations, he focused on what he needed to do on what was expected of him and what was right. He never wavered. In dark times and desperation, he stayed the course. When he walked on water and asked Peter to join him, Peter had faith and walked on water until he realized that man shouldn't be walking on water and sank in the water. He still had faith when the others were saying Peter don't be mad. You can't walk on water, but he did to follow Jesus. What a great man, Jesus. Jesus fed the masses by the lake from such little food. My pastor has a neat perspective, that explains how instead of turning one fish into five thousand maybe all the people bought forth what they had and divided it among all the people and it was enough to feed everyone. A miracle in itself, but not the flashy miracle that we hear most of the time. He forgave the man that turn on him that eventually led to the crucifixion. Pilot was supposed to be Jesus' friend and didn't have the fortitude to stand by him in the time he needed, but Jesus still forgave him. Jesus hung from the cross and asked God to forgive the very men who nailed him to the cross - love, compassion and forgiveness. He could have weaseled his way out and denied all the charges and abandoned the truth to save his hide, but he chose God. He chose to die for all of us. This is the worst part of Lent is thinking of how you can crucify someone who did nothing but love, help and spread such a positive, non-violent message. Ironic huh?
Irony
Why are the things that have no death
The ones with neither sight nor breath!
Eternity is thrust upon
A bit of earth, a senseless stone.
A grain of dust, a casual clod
Receives the greatest gift of God.
A pebble in the roadway lies—
It never dies.
The grass our fathers cut away
Is growing on their graves today;
The tiniest brooks that scarcely flow
Eternally will come and go.
There is no kind of death to kill
The sands that lie so meek and still. . . .
But Man is great and strong and wise—
And so he dies.
I hope you stay focused and steadfast during this Lenten season and please never forget to see the good in everything. We only have a short time here on earth so make the most of it -Life is too precious to dwell on the negative.
Shalom,
Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment