If you’re someone who believes the story of Christianity, it’s hard to imagine anything “good” about the relentless torture and brutal execution of the Son of God, right?
There's some virtuous synchronicity for me this morning. This post hit my mailbox just as I was contemplating Good Friday and the season of rebirth. Thanks! It's a welcome message.
Love John Denver’s music but I also do not remember hearing this one. Very timely and thoughtful. Miss his soaring style.~~~ I had spent some time, 20 years or so outside of church. Not any special Ick, just detachment, whatever…my parents were in ministry and I thought God was busy with everyone else.~~ In the world.~~Also in those days much influence in the background around me of legalism, which can kill a spirit, not to mention other things. Now I fear it has gone much the other way. ~~~It’s been a long journey, but God has answered specific prayers and needs many times since my own Return. ~~~ In the past ten plus years I’ve been in a persc Ch prayer group. Reading and praying for courageous Christians around the world who trust Him for their tragic losses would shame my entitlement atttitude.~~~Charlie Kirk had a couple of really great interviews this morning on his program, one author on CS Lewis; I shall go look him up.
Thanks Sharon for sharing your insights. I was raised Jewish but never experienced a spiritual quest until I was in college. This was in the late sixties-early seventies and so much music was expressing a yearning for deeper meaning. The Moody Blues were a band that really touched my heart with songs like this one which was like a prayer
““Holy Week” does not have to be tied to a particular faith or denomination. When enough people recognize the sacred all around us, it will open doors that no one can shut. “
But it is so tied. People have recognized the sacred since time immemorial. Jesus is not just another iteration.
He is THE way, THE truth and THE life, and bc of this he is hated by the Ruler of the world.
Our duty is to pray for all those who WILL not hear, who have been seduced by money, sex and power, and to go to the Cross with Jesus.
Thank you for this short piece. It is exactly how I approach our whole situation. Rudolf Steiner offers a very challenging meditation in the same vein: "Everything that happens around me and to me is necessary. I will see it at necessary. I will do the work that is mine to do. (One then imaginatively forms a five pointed yellow star and ponders it.) Strength in me."
In order for this to make any sense one has to work to sense the presence of God/Christ/Love within and around.
Amen! I literally wrote something similar today in my journal about we were never promised trouble free world. It is through times of despair that growth in character and faith and trust in unseen come. At the end of day, we are given free will in how we want to think or respond to circumstances. In fact it’s the only thing we can control. Everything else is an illusion. This is our choice and I choose to believe good is happening and things are shifting even though I don’t necessarily see it. I guess this is what Good Friday means to me knowing what comes on Sunday.
What a beautiful sentiment! This is why I call myself an optimist. When you think about it, an optimist is someone who OPTIMIZES. So they're not just "Pollyanna" as the connotation would have us believe. Rather, they can take anything and make the most of it. ❗️
I choose to take our current world circumstances and optimize them for the greater good of all. That includes, as you surmised, daring to see the sacred in the midst of the profane ✨️
Thanks for this. I could never understand why the day they tortured and murdered a good man just for being nice took precedence over the day he said “haha, you missed!”.
And what on earth has chocolate eggs got to do with anything of it?? (besides the commercialization of everything I mean)
Yes, well said. The slough of despond is no place to live. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Thank you, James. "Self-fulfilling prophecy" seems like the ideal description.
There's some virtuous synchronicity for me this morning. This post hit my mailbox just as I was contemplating Good Friday and the season of rebirth. Thanks! It's a welcome message.
Thank YOU for sharing that synchronicity! I appreciate being on a positive wavelength with you.
Amen
🙏
A song from John Denver written by someone I knew a long time ago - https://youtu.be/zHUDnfmcgvY
Wow...I had never heard that before. Thank you, Jeff! It grabbed me right away by referencing my favorite parable (prodigal son).
Love John Denver’s music but I also do not remember hearing this one. Very timely and thoughtful. Miss his soaring style.~~~ I had spent some time, 20 years or so outside of church. Not any special Ick, just detachment, whatever…my parents were in ministry and I thought God was busy with everyone else.~~ In the world.~~Also in those days much influence in the background around me of legalism, which can kill a spirit, not to mention other things. Now I fear it has gone much the other way. ~~~It’s been a long journey, but God has answered specific prayers and needs many times since my own Return. ~~~ In the past ten plus years I’ve been in a persc Ch prayer group. Reading and praying for courageous Christians around the world who trust Him for their tragic losses would shame my entitlement atttitude.~~~Charlie Kirk had a couple of really great interviews this morning on his program, one author on CS Lewis; I shall go look him up.
💖
Thanks Sharon for sharing your insights. I was raised Jewish but never experienced a spiritual quest until I was in college. This was in the late sixties-early seventies and so much music was expressing a yearning for deeper meaning. The Moody Blues were a band that really touched my heart with songs like this one which was like a prayer
https://youtu.be/JLB-W3gLkyM
That was beautiful. Thanks.
““Holy Week” does not have to be tied to a particular faith or denomination. When enough people recognize the sacred all around us, it will open doors that no one can shut. “
But it is so tied. People have recognized the sacred since time immemorial. Jesus is not just another iteration.
He is THE way, THE truth and THE life, and bc of this he is hated by the Ruler of the world.
Our duty is to pray for all those who WILL not hear, who have been seduced by money, sex and power, and to go to the Cross with Jesus.
I concur, Lucy.
I was referring to Passover also being this week. Also, I'm attempting to reach anyone who is reflexively turned off but "religious" language.
Thank you for this short piece. It is exactly how I approach our whole situation. Rudolf Steiner offers a very challenging meditation in the same vein: "Everything that happens around me and to me is necessary. I will see it at necessary. I will do the work that is mine to do. (One then imaginatively forms a five pointed yellow star and ponders it.) Strength in me."
In order for this to make any sense one has to work to sense the presence of God/Christ/Love within and around.
🙏
Amen! I literally wrote something similar today in my journal about we were never promised trouble free world. It is through times of despair that growth in character and faith and trust in unseen come. At the end of day, we are given free will in how we want to think or respond to circumstances. In fact it’s the only thing we can control. Everything else is an illusion. This is our choice and I choose to believe good is happening and things are shifting even though I don’t necessarily see it. I guess this is what Good Friday means to me knowing what comes on Sunday.
Thank you, Kim! 🙏
What a beautiful sentiment! This is why I call myself an optimist. When you think about it, an optimist is someone who OPTIMIZES. So they're not just "Pollyanna" as the connotation would have us believe. Rather, they can take anything and make the most of it. ❗️
I choose to take our current world circumstances and optimize them for the greater good of all. That includes, as you surmised, daring to see the sacred in the midst of the profane ✨️
OPTIMIZE!!!! 💖
A thought that crossed my mind more than once. Excellent explanation.
It's all about love. To be willing to give up your life for the good of someone else.
Thank you, my friend. 🙂
When enough people recognize the sacred all around us, it will open doors that no one can shut.
❤️
❤️
Thanks for this. I could never understand why the day they tortured and murdered a good man just for being nice took precedence over the day he said “haha, you missed!”.
And what on earth has chocolate eggs got to do with anything of it?? (besides the commercialization of everything I mean)
Thank you, my friend...and a blessed Easter to you.
P.S. Bill Hicks did a hilarious bit about Easter and chocolate eggs.
Ooh must look that up!