This morning I arose before the sun. I looked forward with anticipation to worship. To hear those words that the tomb was empty, to know that Christ is risen. Perhaps I looked forward to those words and the hope found within them even more today than I have in the past.
The past weeks have been a struggle, as I have mentioned. I have had had much greater struggles in my life, just three years ago for example, but a struggle it has been none the less. At times out of these struggles tied to those struggles of three years ago and I found worries and fears that never came up three years ago.
Holy Week did not go as I had anticipated. Appointments and procedures took place I had not wanted, and had not anticipated. Which also lead to about two days without food. On Thursday I had a reading as part of the Holy Week Series in the Kirtland Temple. During that service I was moved greatly, and healing started to come both through words said, the celebration of the Eucharist, and also through the encounter with a friend and mentor who I am sure saw the emotion on my face at times in that service, and through the engaging of the sacrament of oil, hands, and prayer.
Friday Morning I worked with the NRSV and Inclusive New Testament, wishing I knew Greek, and prepared my reading of the Crucifixion from the Gospel according to Matthew. five minutes before noon I hurried from the House of the Lord to the Spiritual Formation Center and Visitors center as my tour had run a bit long (should have ended at 11:30). I arrived, picked up the Prayer for Peace binder, the lighter, and glanced at the song that was listed for the Prayer for Peace service, noticed it was referenced wrong, checked and found the correct reference, use the restroom, and entered the chapel to lead the Prayer for Peace. As I reached the scripture passage which came from Luke, I thought “wow this is longer than most” the first words came out my mouth and I realized, I was reading the account of the Crucifixion as found in Luke. So not once, but twice on Friday I had the opportunity to share that part of the story which i want to get past, that I can’t stand, and yet know we must experience and travel through in order to get to today.
Thus as I walked the path to the Temple, the sun yet to appear in the sky, the cool morning air blowing around me, the snow bright even in the early pre-dawn light, I found myself in prayer of thanksgiving. I found myself anticipating the resurrection. I turned the key, opened the door, entered the House of the Lord, removed my shoes, my coat, watch and emptied my pockets and entered the worship area. I continued to pray, at times placing my prayers to music as my fingers conveyed my feelings onto the keys of the piano.
I heard the door open, and others joined me. Soon went to work to finish the preparing of that sacred space for the worship experience to follow. The service would start, and I would encounter joy and excitement. The sermon Bruce gave was a conduit through which the Spirit touched me once again. Afterwards we reset the worship space, breakfast was eaten, and another worship service was held across the street. Another good sermon, even if the MCP/Pastor did use refer to “ordinary time” in the common use of the word ordinary, rather than the numbered weeks.. but still it was a powerful sermon, moving and inspiring. Though I must admit when he said at one point back to our ordinary task, my mind did smile a bit as it thought “numbered tasks”… (which also worked somewhat in the context of the phrase). He also mentioned some thins about Roy Cheville regarding symbols, something that reflects to some degree my own idea about symbols. So thus this morning was filled with two wonderful worship experiences. Afterwards I found myself traveling home and then down a few blocks to a friends for an enjoyable Easter dinner, before leaving to go and supposably work on h/w (which has barely been scratched since I started “working” on it this afternoon).
Now in this moment though a joy flows through me, even as I ponder some changes with school. Even As I ponder how I will get all that I need to get done, finished by when it is due.
For Today I know Christ has risen, risen indeed! I find hope in that resurrection, and I find a sense of calling. I find hope in that which might be, if we truly engage and embrace the promise of the empty tomb and the call that goes with it to go and share peace, love, hope, joy with the world.
Peace be with you,
— Lyle II