Ministers Musings

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about^[a] these things.  Philippians 4:8

They say that if March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb, or vice-versa.  A prediction about the unpredictability of weather, or a way to say that the transition from winter to spring is seldom directly linear.  Two days of beautiful days in the 60s followed by a week of snow and cold rain. Crocuses peeking out into sunshine and then enough wind to send branches careening across the yard.  Lent is a little like that as well.  It’s offered to us as a solemn and penitential time, an opportunity to sharpen our prayer discipline and to practice self-examination and confession.  Then the lectionary gives us some of scripture’s most wonderful and loving texts, as unpenitential as possible.  Isaiah proclaims, ‘Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price!’  God’s love invites all to come and enjoy!  Jesus tells the story of a man with two sons, both of whom he loves deeply and unconditionally.  Joy and love and grace abound week after week, until we come to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.  Then there’s a quick reversal and we hear about confusion and anger and betrayal and torture and pain and death.  All of it grounded in the foundational truth of the Easter joy that’s on the way.

Spring and Lent both, together and separately, are roller coasters of emotion.  Most of us are already dealing with other stressors – family challenges, health challenges, financial uncertainty – and this may well begin to feel utterly overwhelming.   Take an off-ramp from the amusement ride.  Take a walk, wind or no wind, call a friend and laugh with them about their grandchildren, think about the good things Paul recommends to the Philippians – whatever is true and honorable and just, sing yourself a song, come to church.  You don’t have to engage with the uproar around you all the time.   Yes, God’s love invites you to wrestle with troubles you encounter, but not incessantly.  God also offers you green pastures and still waters, rest for your weary soul and balm for your pain. Take God up on the invitation to rest a while.  

I hope you’ll share the story of Holy Week with us in worship.  Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the celebrations of Easter are powerful experiences, always.  There’s a place for you, and we’d love to see you. 

~Pastor Cathy