Easter Sunday

The grave has no one in it. He is not there! He is alive! Jesus is not dead anymore! Jesus is alive! Hallelujah! Jesus Lives!

40th day of Lent

It is quiet today. Usually that is how it is the day after someone is buried. There's still a lot of food around with an occasional relative or close friend lingering in the guest bedrrom. But mostly it is a wearisome, lonely, and quiet day - the day after someone is buried. There is numbness to the emotions at this point in the grief process. It is a feeling of "not wanting to wake up" for fear the nightmare might just be true. There is no happy music or funny television programs filling the air on the day after someone is buried. Mostly it is quiet with only whispers filling the air. Tears are still hanging around, but mostly the tears have emptied the tear ducts, and the feeling of the need to cry is not accompanied by tears - there just aren't any more tears to shed.

Jesus is dead and buried in a borrowed tomb. It is finally over. The shouts of anger, and the conspiracy of false accusations have ceased. There's no need to bully Jesus anymore, he's dead. He knew it was over. He cried, "It is finished!" while he died on that cruel tree. He knew it was over. They can't hurt him anymore. I hope they are happy now! They got what they wanted. Jesus is buried. The tomb is sealed and posted with armed guards - which seems silly to me. He's dead! Don't they get it - Jesus is dead!

I'll be quiet today and reflect on these 40 days of journey. Here I am once again on the last day of the week on the last day of Lent wondering what next week will hold for me. I hope it is good and healthy. I hope this journey of Lent has prepared me for what is about to happen. I hope it has made a difference in my heart and life. I hope. It is a quiet that feels a little like the "calm before the storm." I'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.


One last note to the reader:

These blogs have been a therapeutic process for me. I thank you for taking the time to read, and I hope somewhere along the way it has been helpful to your journey of faith. Where do I go from here? Your ideas as to the future of "Very Terry" blogging are appreciated. This blog does not wish to "wear out its welcome." But this blog does not want to "cease prematurely" either. Let me know your thoughts either in the comment section of the blog or at twalton@gfumc.com. Thanks.

39th day of Lent

I’ve never spent a night in jail. I do know several people who have, and they tell me it is a frightening experience. I’ve known several who have had to serve "some time," as they say, which means they were in jail or prison for a period of time. My dad used to tell us kids that if we ever "got locked up," he would leave us there for at least one night so we could "appreciate" the experience and learn our lesson. Maybe that is why I never had to spend a night in jail - I knew I was going to be left there for at least a 24-hour period.

Jesus has been incarcerated in the dungeon under the High Priest Caiaphas’ house. I’ve been to the place where they say this took place. I was deeply moved by that experience. The location of Jesus scourging with 39 lashes is in this place. The place where he was held, which is nothing more than a rock hole in the ground, is there. It moved me beyond my ability to express. We sang the hymn, "What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul!" at this place.

Today is the day the world turned dark, and the God of love was crucified. Today is the day that he suffered and died so that I wouldn’t have to suffer for eternity. How can I say thanks? What can I do to offer my appreciation? What can I do? What will I do? This is the day Jesus died. I am saddened. I am still. I am deeply moved. I grieve.

38th day of Lent

Preparing for a Passover meal was tedious and important. I imagine if the rolls are gooey at Easter lunch with all the family gathered that it would be an embarrassment to the cook. Well, to have something forgotten or out of place for the Passover meal would be more than an embarrassment. It would diminish the symbolic meaning of the meal. So on the day that would become "Holy Thursday" long ago; the disciples are busy preparing a room that was on a second level (thus the Upper Room) for a meal that was to be second to none.

But what is going on with Jesus today? I sense his preparation as well. He is preparing to tell his disciples some stunning news. One of them will betray him. The meal that they have always known is going to change in purpose and meaning. One of them will deny him - three times. He will be pushing them way out of their comfort zones. Jesus must have known they were going to have a hard time understanding and accepting his words to them. I wonder how he is preparing his mind and heart for the impending tragic evening.

What is going on with Judas today? He’s preparing too, isn’t he? Was he excited? Was he frustrated? Was it done with a mean spirit? Was it done with a loving spirit, thinking this was the best for all involved?

What is going on with me today? How am I preparing? I have worship tonight to remember all of these events. Will I get it or will it get me?