What Happened to Easter?

Thoughts for the Day, April 13, 2020

As Easter Sunday came to a close, I felt a deep hole in my soul thinking what just happened? Was that Holy week? What happened to the rituals like the palms waving up and down as the children enter church on Palm Sunday? Where were the voices yelling “Crucify Him” during the Passion reading? What about the Communion table set with all the white covered chairs, the black one for Judas, and the purple chair for our Lord on Holy Thursday? What happened to  the cross decorated with the pink flowers and the white lilies on the altar Easter Sunday—and all the people—the community  of believers that express excitement because He indeed is risen? What happened to it all?

Scripture makes it clear that one sign of union with God is unity with each other. No doubt, being with each other is a clear and vital part of our faith, but I wonder if God is trying to teach us something very different this year? While being with other believers is critically important, it does not and cannot replace being  alone with our Lord.  That is the place we obtain our power, our love for one another.  

Maybe He is saying quit being concerned with external things and spend this time with Me? Maybe He is telling us to be thankful for quiet days and time alone with Him.  Maybe He is reminding us of the words from John “I am the vine; you are the branches…apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Perhaps He is telling us that all the rituals and traditions  help us understand Him better,  but they are just that—rituals and traditions.  Maybe he is telling us that  our time with fellow Christians is important but this is a time to let our life merge with His. And although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in the spiritual realms! Have a blessed day in His Presence!

Entertaining Angels

It was a mild and inviting summer evening in Atlanta so my sister and her daughter decided to enjoy dinner in a charming patio area outside a quaint café. They were enjoying  dinner in a music-filled courtyard while waiting for my great-niece and a friend who were attending a concert just several blocks away.

As they were eating, they were approached by a homeless couple. The woman said, “We are hungry.” My sister explained that she had no cash on hand, but insisted they join them for dinner. The patio was filled with 40-50 people who were clearly puzzled when seeing the new, shabbily dressed visitors take a seat. The manager began heading toward the table with a bewildered look, but my niece waved him off. My sister then requested menus for the two guests that were joining them. The gentlemen insisted that the restaurant was too pricy and that an entire meal at Subway was less than $6.00. After some persuasion, my sister ensured them that it was fine and to order whatever they would like. She was a little tight with funds on her debit card, but my sister never made it known, instead she focused on enjoying the company of the two strangers.

The couple explained that they were from Biloxi and moved to Atlanta where they now reside in places he renovates when he is fortunate enough to get work and in abandoned buildings when he is not. They apologized if they smelled, but bathing is not always an option when living on the streets. They talked about the commonality of their faith and before leaving said that they knew they would all meet again in heaven. They repeatedly thanked my sister and niece, said their goodbyes and left with a bag of leftovers.

After a fashion my sister asked for her check. The waitress returned saying, “The bill had been paid in full because someone had seen you bless the lives of the destitute twosome and wanted to return the blessing.” I believe this is an example of what Jesus was telling us when he said, “Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the same one that God will use for you"  (Luke 6:38 GNB).

Michele

Izzy's Babies

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Izzy's babies at 4 weeks and fully weaned!

Izzy is my oldest daughter’s dog who recently delivered four adorable pups. When they were two weeks old, she came down with a staph infection and was no longer able to feed them. My daughter is in medical school and just a few short weeks from taking step one of her board tests. Ten to twelve hour days of studying leaves little time to bottle feed puppies. Therefore, my husband and I helped. We brought the cute little guys and gal to our house along with their mom. Since she could not nurse, they were separated by a crate. Izzy couldn’t quite understand the complexity of the situation or why we took over, leaving her to watch; but with full faith she allowed us to take care of her little ones.

As a mother, I can empathize with Izzy’s struggle in not understanding this situation that was completely out of her control. A year and half ago my daughter was diagnosed with Graves Disease. At just the time she was about to catch her breath and get the disease under control, she began to experience some symptoms that didn’t match up with thyroid disease. After several months of being referred from one doctor to the next, she was diagnosed with a second, more serious autoimmune disease-Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

I have been overwhelmed and perplexed regarding this situation. My first thought was, why not me, I’m older… My second thought was, why not someone that is doing nothing to better society, even causing damage to others. Finally, I realized that these “why” thoughts led one place…A DEAD END.

 I completely understood Izzy and her state of confusion, but I also learned from her as well. While she was perplexed, she also displayed full faith in an unexplainable force more powerful than her own— the caring hands of humans. She somehow trusted that we were there to help her and her family. As I watched, I realized that this is exactly what God expects from me with my children. Trust that His almighty, unexplainable power is there to take care of them, to love and guard them. Hopefully I have learned a lesson from man’s best friend and will graciously step aside like Izzy and trust my little ones to the caring hands of God.

Michele 

In His Image

^{Genesis 1:27 (NIV)}

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

 I am currently taking a class on Catholic Social Thought. I was really dreading the idea of reading a lot of documents written by dead Popes. But instead, I am enjoying it and it has made me more aware of the importance of each and every person. The fact that we are each created in the image of God is an incredible concept—one that I failed to take serious until recently. I believe understanding the importance of this idea is helping me view people in a different light.

I was in line at Starbucks on Saturday standing behind a group of five teenagers. Two of the boys appeared to be of a European descent, another boy was probably from the Middle East as well as one of the girls. The young lady standing directly in front of me appeared to be of an Asian background. They were having a good time and seemed to be truly enjoying the company of each other. There appeared to be no judgment between them, just friendships… kids being kids. It is funny how children can teach adults so much if they are willing to observe and learn.

Another incident occurred at Ransom Café—a restaurant where you pay what you can.  It was near closing time and a nice gentlemen name Vance came in and asked if we had any groceries left.  We pulled together some food and fixed him a plate to go since the kitchen was closing.  As I was cleaning the front area, he grabbed a table near me. We seemed to hit it off immediately. He started telling me how people really aren’t that different. He cuts yards for a living and he began to tell me how some people that have a lot of material possessions treat him like he is less. He then said, “Ya know there is nothing wrong with having a lot stuff, but when you treat another person less than human because they don’t have much, that is where the problem begins.” And then he said, “Ya know Bill Gates probably wakes up with a back ache just like me and we all have to deal with disease and death, we really aren’t that different.” 

And to that I say, Indeed we are not, let’s start acting like it!

Michele

The Giants

“We should attack and take the land; we are strong enough to conquer it” (Numbers 13:30b, GNB).

Have you ever considered that GIANTS ARE REAL? They are not something you dream up. No they are problems, pains, pressures and negative self talk. They distract, detour and consume us.

A couple of weeks ago, the Giants took center stage in my life.  I attended a volunteer dinner for Ransom Café. It was a great dinner with talks that focused on the accomplishments achieved by this ministry over the past year. This is an incredible outreach that continues to grow, aiding and assisting many. Instead of leaving this dinner inspired, I left depressed. I looked at my small life and minimal accomplishments for the Kingdom of God and felt sick.

This mind set has actually consumed me for several weeks now. Then I realized that this is exactly what the enemy wants. Like the Israelites I am approaching the Promise Land, yet I am letting the Giants of my mind tell me how impossible it is to overcome the obstacles. These Giants are telling me how useless I am and how little I do for God.

 It has been a somewhat paralyzing state, but today I am going to face those Giants by letting them know that my God is so much bigger than mere giants. I may never accomplish the things that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ do, but I refuse to let the giants win. I am shaking them off and saying quit draining me and distracting me from everything God intends for me to be and do for HIM.

Michele

Lost In the Static

…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1b-2a NIV).

As I sloshed through the melting snow and looked at the individuals busily crossing block after block, I wondered how these people were able to keep a focus on God in this hectic environment. This was my fourth day in New York City and the constant static seemed to put me in a state of numbness. As I returned to the hotel, I wondered how in just four short days my relationship with God had drifted so far from where it was just earlier that week.

 On Tuesday night, my cousin who lives alone in New York called to tell us that she was scheduled for major emergency, open-heart surgery set for Thursday morning. My brother, sister and several cousins hurriedly booked flights and headed to New York to accompany her. When we first arrived, we were concerned that the surgery may be more than her overall health conditions could withstand. The initial report was promising and she seemed to improve daily. Then we were faced with two winter storms that were headed our way with concerns of a major blizzard.  It seemed that from the very second we arrived, one thing after another was consuming our thoughts and time.

As I made my way back through the constant noise, I continued to think about the close relationship with God that I had so enjoyed over the past few months.  I had spent the last three months engrossed in the scriptures as I had been researching and writing a Bible Study. It was clear to me that staying in the word of God is crucial. We talk with God through prayer, but our answers are often given to us through the Scriptures. Sometimes we feel like God is MIA, when in reality we have allowed the static of the world to consume our time and thoughts instead of His powerful words.

Michele

Keeping It Shut

 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent (Proverbs 17:28 ASV).

I had been reading the story of Nabal, Abigail and David from the book of I Samuel. I was in awe over the wisdom Abigail displayed on two different occasions when dealing with her bad-tempered husband Nabal.  At one point, her household was in great danger of attack from David and his army of 600 men. This was due to the arrogant and ill-mannered response of Nabal when David was need of his hospitality and assistance. Abigail did something I often fail to do—she kept her mouth shut and chose to wait until a later time to approach Nabal. In the meantime, she addressed the issue with David using both grace and humility.

After I completed reading and studying the passage, I called my husband as I was in route to meet my sister for our Wednesday night walk. While walking, my sister and I catch up with the day-to-day happenings in our lives. I told her that I felt a bit bad because I had just gotten off the phone with my husband and once again approached him about our financial struggles and changes needed in our business. He asked me to wait and address it when he returned from out of town. He said, “I need to focus on the positive in order to acquire the two sales I am currently trying to make.”  I obviously picked an inopportune time to bring up this sensitive issue.

As we continued walking, my sister told me how each Saturday she asked everyone in her household to help her with the weekly menu, but generally gets very little response. So she does the best she can in her menu planning. She continued telling me how she cooked some quesadillas the other night and when her husband arrived home he said, “Don’t give me any of those.”  She wanted to respond, but instead she said nothing, continued cooking, set the table and told everyone to come eat. Her husband came to the table, ate what she cooked and never said a word.

 Prior to the conversation with my husband, I had written these words to ponder, “Sometimes not opening our mouth shows much wisdom.” I read it, I wrote it, but I did not practice it. My sister on the other hand, did!  She wasn’t dealing with an army of 600 like Abigail, but sometimes when trying to cook and please a variety of people and taste buds; it feels like you’re dealing with an army of 800! When the potential for confrontation arose, she made the wise choice and kept her mouth shut. 

We are told of the value of keeping our mouths shut in the book of Proverbs. It says, Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent (17:28 ASV).   Maybe I failed on this occasion, but if I continue to surround myself with good examples like Abigail and my sister, then I’m bound to get it right eventually!  

Michele