It's been a while since I've posted. I could say that I've been busy, but that would be only partly so. The truth is, I've been depressed and discouraged, an old familiar pain that spans my entire lifetime. I can distinctly recall it since my early teens. If I could find it, I'd point you to a journal from those days in which I scrawled, "What good to live, if but to die.
Sounds like the Book of Ecclesiastes, one Biblical book I avoid, because it is too painful for me. "Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
It doesn't help that I've been reading a dismal book. Why do I dip into such stuff? I've just finished One Second After by William R. Forstchen. He writes about what might happen if enemies of the USA were to manage to explode nuclear bombs a couple hundred miles above Kansas, causing an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse). Telephones, cars, the entire electrical grid, everything electronic--all of it--could in theory be destroyed while people and animals would not be affected. However, that would leave us helpless, pushed back to a civilization like that in medieval times. Millions upon millions would die.
My goodness, what moves me to read such stuff? Fiction, of course, but potentially . . . Well, you get the picture.
As I read that I suddenly began to realize how the two disciples on the road to Emmaus must have felt when they thought Jesus was dead. Everything they hoped for, dreamed about, was gone. Their Messiah was dead, murdered by the Romans and their own country's leaders on a cross outside of Jerusalem.
"He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people," they told the stranger who encountered them on the way. "The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel" (Luke 24).
"We had hoped. . ." The dream was gone, dissipated by the cruel reality of the day. The night was now closing in and with it hope was dying.
And yet, here was this stranger. They didn't recognize him. They couldn't. Their eyes were blinded by their disbelief. Rather blunt, no very blunt was he. "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe . . ." And from there he went on to explain that it was all part of the plan, all written through the prophets centuries before.
I guess I'll have to take another look at my depression, wiggle my little finger at my doubts and ask, "Is what you believe really the truth? Is God dead? Has Satan won after all?"
Perhaps not. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
I'd best get on with the tasks of the day before me. I pray you will do the same.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Leave, Cleave and Weave
This happy time brought back memories of the many couples whose weddings I blessed with the Word of God and prayer. It has long been my custom to counsel with these couples before the actual ceremony. Our discussions in those pre-marital sessions revolve around three Biblical concepts from Genesis 2: Leave - Cleave - Weave.
Leave - A man leaves behind his childhood to move into the mature responsibility of being a husband. A woman leaves the protection and care of her family to come under the loving care of her husband. Of course it isn't always quite that simple; many scenarios precede any given marriage. The point, however, is that the man and the woman are leaving the past behind and moving forward to something new.
Cleave - I have learned to use that word to describe the next step in this wonderful process in its earlier, secondary meaning: adhere to, hold to, abide by, be loyal to, be faithful to. This is what marriage is all about. For the remainder of their lives these two will cleave to one another to the exclusion of all others. That leads to the next and related process.
Weave - They spend their lives becoming one. This is where the challenges arise, particularly because of our human natures. A husband and a wife remain separate individuals who must struggle to overcome their self-centered sinfulness. Failure to do this leads in all too many cases to adultery and divorce. But, as in the case of Max and Beverly, when couples learn to accept, forgive and love one another, the weaving leads to celebration and happiness.
It is fascinating that the Apostle Paul interrupts his instructions about marriage with these words: "This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." What could he possibly mean?
The mystery revealed is indeed profound. Our heavenly Father loved this broken, adulterous and fallen world of men, women and families. This is why He sent His Son. Jesus came, leaving behind His glory and majesty to become one with us in our sin. He loved us and sought us out in a love far beyond that of any husband. He bound Himself to us by His life and His death upon the cross. Our griefs and sorrows became His. He was separated from His God for us. And now we are about to celebrate again His victory and the marriage feast of the Lamb of God. In a week a large portion of our world will share anew the news: "Christ is Risen! Alleluia!"
We who are His Bride, the Church, will spend eternity weaving our lives with and into His. This has already begun as He lives in us and we in Him in a relationship far deeper and more wondrous than any human marriage.
Beverly did not know what Max and their son were planning. The celebration was a complete surprise to her. And that is indeed what we who learn to know about the love and mercy of Jesus experience as well. How could He have such love for us? But He does and that is indeed something to celebrate--forever!
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