Lenten Devotion - day 21

Today Lent reminds me that life is short. I usually forget that I am nearly ten years older than Jesus was when he died, which is just to say that I forget how young he was. But last Sunday I had my hair down, and someone said I looked like Jesus. I said if Jesus was English and pale perhaps. But then I remembered he was younger than I am too. I’m older looking than he was probably.

By the way, thank you for asking me about a daily thing, I would never think this much about Lent if I hadn’t told you I’d do this. It’s helped remind me how that as a spiritual seeker I have so much left to learn. I have so much more to grow.

Time is often taken for granted though. By that I mean I at least do so. I don’t know how many tomorrows I have promised. And I waste so much time on not being fully alive, fully present to the wonder and holiness all around me. I don’t know how to define what I mean by wonder and holiness, but I hope that you know what I mean…

It’s like that moment when you wake up and smell someone cooking bacon and it just feels like home, and for that briefest of moments you feel like a kid again without a care in the world.

No its more than that. It’s like when you feel you are one with all things. I was in Yosemite two summers ago. One day when everyone else decided to ride bikes I went on a walk. I stayed in the valley because I didn’t want to hike, I wanted to saunter.

I sauntered through meadows, and past streams, and around majestic trees that I craned by head back to look up and down. I swayed with some trees in the wind until I noticed people staring at me and realized what a sight that must have been.

I sat and watched the tall waterfalls in the park. I didn’t think much of anything, I just watched them. I even came across a bear! In the middle of the day no less! And as I went back I stopped and sat on a rock in the middle of the valley, in the meadows of the valley, and I just looked at Half Dome. I sat on a rock, and stared at a rock, and I felt at one with the place; and for the briefest of moments I felt I was one with all creation. No wonder people flock to Yosemite; it feels holy. Anything that makes us feel at one with things is holy.

But again Lent reminds me today that time is short. Jesus made it to thirty-three. We barely know anything about him, and yet more people feel like they know something about him than anyone else who has ever lived. Jesus was someone who was one with all things.

What the gospels tell about him is over the course of a year, or maybe three years tops. And you know what, I love those four books. I am eternally grateful for all the literature, history, theology classes I’ve had, that help hone my joy when reading them. I am eternally grateful for the great preachers I’ve heard, and how they made the stories come alive and teach me to dance with the Christ we meet in those stories.

As a preacher, if I have anything to add to the sacred craft, it will only because I stand on the shoulders of giants whose reach will always go further than my own; but I am part of their reach, and they are part of Christ’s reach. If one person ever feels like the Christ of the Scriptures comes alive in the words of my mouth… that is wonder to me.

I keep moving away from my point. This is all I wanted to say. Sorry about the rest. Time is short. So I wanted you to know I love you. I don’t tell you enough. I don’t tell anyone enough. I love you.
Until tomorrow,
Garrett