Passion Week

What better time to focus on someone, besides ourselves, then the Passion Week. This will be one of the the few years that I will not be able to attend any of the services because of work. So I decided to really take some time then to just reflect on what the passion was like, what would it be like if I was in Jesus shoes, (sandals). I had the gift of being in the Holy Land this year and what a gift that is turning out to be. You really don't realize the impact it has on you until you get home and the different events that come up and you reflect, wow I have been there, in that spot, walking that same walk. Just to think that Jesus loved us so much that he gave his life for us, then showed us the Resurrection to seal that love. He not only suffered for us but then invites us to come be with him. Oh if I could only have such a love, such an unconditional love. As I walk this walk will I be the one on the side spitting and cursing, the one hiding, watching from a distance, or will I be the one underneath the cross with Mary. I wrote a little prayer in my prayer book that went like this; fail I shall, recover I must, Christ fell and I kiss the wounds upon His most sacred knees, because those wounds were caused by me. As He got up, so shall I, to walk again until I die. Jesus you are my strength, you are my hope, with love.
May this Passion Week find our footsteps in union with his, and maybe, in His mercy, we will come into the Kingdom with Him.

Rounded picture

Have you ever tried to get a point across to someone, but instead they try to get their point of view across to you? What usually happens is both points of view may have their own merit yet neither party is willing to give an inch in fear of appearing to be giving in. I was discussing this same issue today and I came to a new point of view. So here is a thought to ponder; we are standing outside a building, we will say a church , and looking through the window in the front door we begin to share our view. Another person is standing outside the same church looking through a different window sharing their view, while still another person is standing outside the same church looking through the window in the side door sharing still another view. Ah yes same church 3 different views. Lesson I learned, share my view, but listen to the other views so that I get a better picture of the whole. Yet still, take the time to look into those other windows so that I might have a better understanding of the view they are expressing.

ah yes, time passes but yet certain things never pass. Our annual tree viewing brought us into someones front yard this year. Out of the corner of my eye as we were zipping up the highways of northern Iowa I caught sight of this familiar face. Up the hill and a quick u-turn brought more question then I was beginning to think the adventure was worth. After several rubbing of my ears and shaking my head my mother came to the conclusion that I had found a new road to follow. Actually and old road that if some of you remember started way back. My earliest reflection was at the zoo in St Louis, but the earliest picture I believe was with her friends at the zoo in Pittsburgh, Pa.. So it goes as we rounded the corner and into the drive the big burly figure greeted us with his picture perfect pose. You just never know what you might find unless you adventure out and keep your eyes open. The road you follow may be were you want to go but the side trips along the way are what memories are made of. As the saying goes, take time to smell the roses or in this case to visit a friend. :)