Easter now

The emptying, the journeying through, the desiring to be more, to be better --- all comes into a moment of fullness on Easter.

Literally and metaphorically, we come to the dawn, to the sunrise of a new day and are surrounded by the bright purples, pinks, yellows, and whites of flowers and trees in bloom; there is an energy, a belief confirmed, a renewing --- there is life!

Where we least expect to find it --- life.

In the midst of loss and confusion --- hope, a real belief in what can be.

In the numbing, destructive, well-worn, uninspiring routines of our lives --- there is newness, a new day, a new start, a new perspective, a new me!

Easter is the ultimate game changer.

Easter asks us to experience it not with the donning of bonnets and finery, more than the joyous refrains, beyond the family gatherings --- Easter asks us to risk, to open, to believe and to trust in life made new.

Easter calls us to throw off the old and worn and familiar and become new, become more, become whole.

As in all things, Easter is ours if we say yes to life.

sj;

Be where your feet are

In a previous post I had told readers that I would share a story about my experience with foot washing. This, dear reader, is that tale.

Let me begin by saying that if you are ordained clergy in the Christian faith tradition and cannot get energized, jacked, enthused about designing and leading the worship services for Holy Week one needs to seriously consider taking a break. While in the local church, I absolutely loved preparing and leading the Holy Week worship services. I miss it and hope for new opportunities.

The stories of the week are packed full of emotion, are tales of giving and leaving and the impact of the mystery in each narrative cries out to be celebrated in a way that builds and draws upon that emotion.

For me one of the most powerful and intimate experiences was to wash the feet of another. In my opinion, if one is going to remember Jesus washing the feet of his followers, then by all means don’t wuss out and wash hands….go for it! Get a basin, fill it with water, gather towels, and wash another's feet!

There is something humbling and intimate and binding when one kneels and washes the feet of another. I made sure the water was warm, and I would pour it gently over one foot and then the other. I would wash, massage, and dry each foot and as I did this I would softly affirm the person whose feet I washed, looking up occasionally into another’s face. I concluded by massaging ointment into the feet and offering a blessing.

She was a woman in her late-40s whose personal story started with the phrase, “I should have been dead at least three times in my life….” Her one hand and her feet were curved and turned-in, she limped noticeably. She carried herself with a steady, peaceful, gentle presence and kindness. As I washed her feet she sighed and smiled and as I affirmed her and looked up her gaze was constant and met my eyes as she smiled. I massaged the ointment into her feet and as I prepared to offer a parting word, she reached down, cupped my face in her hands, and smiling pronounced blessing on me saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And, who was serving whom?

We call it Maundy Thursday because we who follow the Christ are given a mandate --- “to love one another as Christ has loved us."

Blessed be and do.

sj;

Toddler Truths

This morning going out to get the daily paper, I stopped because I was drawn to the amazing smell of flowers in bloom. I stopped, smelled, and smiled. I noticed the new green leaves appearing on the tree branches and the seed pods waiting for just a bit more sunshine to open their green shoots. I never noticed that before and it was an early day “Wow!” I stayed awhile longer and listened to the bird song and smiled as I recalled the cardinal’s song which, appropriately enough, sounds like “pretty…pretty…pretty….”

All this probably lasted five minutes. It was a gift to start the day more aware, more centered, more in touch.

I had breakfast with the mothers of two toddlers. As soon as I write or say “toddlers” it brings an instant smile. Of course they shared how much fun they were having with their sons and I remarked how incredible it must be now that spring is here and the weather is nice and they can spend great quality time with their sons outside.

Being around a toddler is a gift to re-mind us to slow down, look closely, and be wow-ed by all that surrounds. For anyone who has walked with a toddler, one knows speed, travel efficiency, and getting to one’s destination quickly is abandoned --- and that’s a good thing for us and our packed schedules, unwieldy to-do lists, and eyes focused on our Blackberrys, i-pads, and mobile phones.

In part due to their size, toddlers notice the things we quickly walk past, step over, and simply don’t see. A dandelion is a source of endless fascination; a stone a new toy to throw; and a crack in the sidewalk an opening to another world that must be explored infinitum.

If I have a theme song for my recent living it would have to be “slow down you move to fast, got to make the moment last…..”

If I have a way to make my life fuller it is to observe more and talk less.

If I have a way to make my smile brighter it is to listen to all I have been missing, a good tune (am loving Adele’s music!); bird song; the laughter of children playing in the neighborhood; a good story…..

Stop. Look. Listen is still some of the best advice ever given and it applies not only to railroad crossings, yet, even more to life crossings.

Let me know how goes it for you….

Sj;

Who Loves a Parade?

For anyone who grew up in a small town there is a certain charm to a parade. The high school band is all tuned-up (or, close enough), folks bring out their lawn chairs, kids sit on the curb, it seems as if everyone is there and surrounding it all is a positive energy so tangible one remembers it years later.

The most recent parade I attended was the Penguins victory parade through downtown Pittsburgh following the winning of their third Stanley Cup. A friend of mine referred to it as "the march of the penguins."

The beginning of Holy Week starts with a parade. Jesus on a donkey, surrounded by his followers, a throng of townspeople waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna!" For a moment, stay with the parade, don't look ahead, remain with the energy of the day. This is it --- the moment long waited for...finally, a triumphant entry into the holy city of Jerusalem....now is the time for the reign to begin and for Rome to be removed from power.

In the midst of this, I see Jesus calm, observant, quiet, perhaps a small smile as he watches seated a bit apart from the party. He has to enjoy seeing the energy and exuberance of his friends. He has to be bothered by the underpinning plans for overthrow.

Where is your focus during this parade? Are you too caught up in the energy and rush of the event? Are you enjoying the exuberant actions of others, caught up in people watching?

I encourage each of us to let our focus of the week be on the Christ. Draw close enough to watch, hear, understand.

sj;