Photo Per Day #15: Morning Sky

There's a church on the way to my sister's house that posts pithy, thought provoking maxims on their lawn sign. I always slow down to read them. Yesterday's read, "Joy is not the absence of problems but the presence of God." Love that.

Back to work. 

 

The Rocks and Stones Themselves Would Start to Sing

It's Holy Week. So what does that mean? Christ vs. the Easter bunny. Anguish vs. pastel baskets. Death vs. coloring eggs. Joy vs. hunting for eggs. It's such a tug-of-war between the extraordinary vs. ordinary. Pretty much just as it was back in the day, right? A carpenter? From Nazareth? A king riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? What the french, toast.

For me, I need to take the time, as I've been attempting to do throughout Lent this year, to reflect more deeply on the meaning of Easter.

That our God walked among men. What? Un-friggin-believable. (Truly unbelievable, to many!) He used to come in a cloud or a burning bush and scare the hell out of people. This time he joined us, taught us, fed us and loved us.

That, like Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac (and then some), God gave his only son to atone for our sins. And Jesus fully accepted his death on the cross for us. What? Is he crazy? (No, he's just a failed prophet, cite some.)

That, after the tomb was found empty, Jesus appeared not only to his disciples -- in a closed and locked room nonetheless -- but also to hundreds of people thereafter. But not like Casper the Friendly Ghost. He ate and drank with them. They felt his wounds. What? Is is a resurrection even possible? (It might happen, tsshyeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.)

If I were attempting to create a world religion, I don't think I would have my star character killed. I would have him dramatically rescued at the last minute. Perhaps a light-filled ascension right from the cross, like being lifted into an alien spaceship, with a bit of a "Ha! Told you so!" thrown in for good measure. Dude, that was really him? Man did we screw up.

Instead, darkness came over the land. The earth shook and the rocks split.

Also, I wouldn't write that he came back to earth -- especially since the first texts were written roughly 30 years after his death. Or, if I were making it up, I would have changed the dateline so that people couldn't refute my ridiculous claims. Yeah, it all happened 200 years ago. Too bad there isn't anyone around to chat about it.

But, much akin to idiots claiming that the Holocaust never occurred even when survivors are still living to this day, these texts were written when the people who actually saw the risen Lord were still alive and could back up the claims. That's way better than saying you were at Woodstock. And trust me, if someone published a book today making crap up about events at Woodstock that never took place (like the *fact* that Jimmy Hendrix actually performed in neon pink wig and floor length YSL ballgown), I guarantee people would not buy into it.

So what gives?

As Christ was entering Jerusalem and people were screaming "Hosanna in the highest," he said, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." Luke 19:40

Even without anyone shouting, all of creation testifies to his glory.

Friday the 13th

In lieu of giving in to the "bad luck" of the day, I thought I would capture thirteen things that make me happy (in no particular order and not an exhaustive list).

1. Snuggling with my boys
2. Sunshine (on my shoulders . . . )
3. Travel (for pleasure v. business)
   
4. Dancing wildly
5. Cupcakes
6. Cocktails with my girlfriends
7. My husband's cooking
8. The holiday market at Union Square
9. Birds (e.g., sparrows, finches and sandpipers)
10. Church bells, candles and incense
11. The smell of fresh pipe tobacco
    
12. Christmas (e.g., trees, lights, songs, festivities, presents)
13. Stinky (our passionate, incessantly hungry, bulimic, black cat)

Oh. Did I say thirteen? I meant a baker's dozen plus one . . . 'cause you can't help but look at these cuties from a bygone era and feel real joy. (And no, it's not Bowie, Henrik Lundqvist, Paul Rudd or John Cusack, so there.)

Till He Appeared and the Soul Felt its Worth

I was going to save this song for last given that it's a Christmas classic in the true sense of the definition. But after spending the morning in church celebrating the life of my girlfriend Christine's dad who passed away last week and singing along to a number of my favorite hymns including both Ave Maria and Amazing Grace (which, circumstances notwithstanding, always bring me to tears), I thought it would be best to select a proper Christmas hymn today.

"Oh Holy Night" is also a favorite that I share with my mom which makes it even more special for me. While I'm not a fan of Celine Dion and almost went with the Tracy Chapman version, I opted for the traditional rendering. The words, if you take a moment to listen, are beyond compare.

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born

It makes me want to drop to the ground and thank God for such an amazing gift. Yes, the weary world rejoices!