Gratitude

art by Sarah Juniper Greene, more of her work here.

One family member with whom I spoke said repeatedly she could not do "X" because it was closed today. Initially, I didn't understand why, and then I remembered it was Good Friday. Even days set aside for "holiness" become mundane if not observed or if no attention is paid to them. And while I doubt the NYSE traders took today to meditate on Christ's sacrifice, having the time set aside reminds some of us to try and take the time to engage in gratitude or reflect in praise.

I've done neither, not for Christ's sacrifice. I engaged in gratitude and reflected in praise as I came home from work, on time and with no lingering items to complete once I arrived home. I took a walk with J in the neighborhood park, naming cardinals and herons, admiring the restructuring of a backyard, staying close lipped around hordes of gnats frolicking in the lengthening light. I flirted with dogs along the path, waved at unknown drivers swinging wide around us, admired the unfurling of the red maple's leaves. 

And maybe coming to some conclusion about the equality of celebrating Christ and celebrating the world for which Christ died is too convenient. But if the world was created by Christ, and Christ came to save/rescue/redeem/resurrect it, maybe enjoying its beauty and finding gratitude for its splendor is as honoring to Christ's sacrifice as honoring Christ's sacrifice specifically.

I think God smiles as we smile, sings as we sing and celebrates as we celebrate, so blessings on Good Friday. May Christ be glorified in all of our gratitude.

PRACTICE

Lectio Divina: Read the following passage through after a few deep breaths and pay attention to any word or phrase which sticks out for you. Read through again and pay attention to anything further you notice about the word/phrase and how it applies to you. Read through again and spend time in prayer with the word/phrase asking God what you need to understand/know/do with the word/phrase (i.e., How might God be guiding you? What needs your further action? Where may your understanding need to be changed or expanded? How may this impact your relationship with someone else?). End with a time of thanksgiving. 

John 3:13-21

13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”