The Whole Picture

Can't sleep . Been awake since 6. Counting sheep isn't working. Might as well get up ,make a cup of tea and put down some thoughts . I've been thinking of the symbols of the manger ,the cross and the empty tomb and it isn't any surprise that I would consider them to be the unfolding  of  everything  I believe  Godwise and Jesuswise. I'm sure many would say these three symbols are what's it's all about ,only they would say it much more Biblically or religiously. But I can only say it my way (gee I sound a bit like Ole Blue Eyes ). Yes, these symbols sum it all up for me . They're the whole enchilada ,the full-meal deal ,the full house in forty-fives, the 29 hand in crib, t.he seven letter word with highest point tiles in scrabble, a zero in dominoes,a ten in competive sports , afive star hotel.....you get the picture .They go together ,the manger ,the cross and the empty tomb. The winning combination for me . There is no way I can lose if I believe how they tie together ,if I believe I can't just go with one ,it's all three or nothing !   Now should I or do I put more value on one or the other or are they equal ? That's just come to my mind for the first time ever and it's going to have to be something I ponder and investigate for myself . But "What I do know for sure "as Oprah says, is Jesus came to the musty strawstrewn  manger ,offered Himself to the excruciating violence  of the cross ,and came back from death to fullfill His purpose on Earth for me (and the world).It was all for me .....little ole me who has fallen more times than stood innocent and doing right,has tried so many many times to take control of my life and has blew things bigtime,  has returned time after time to ask forgiveness and make promises that God knows I will never be able to keep mostly because I'm human and if I don't live my life spiritually versus worldly seeking His guidance and becoming closer to Him in relationship  I'm definitely up the creek without a paddle and I've experienced firsthand what it's like to be in a kayak that just goes all willy-nilly and doesn't get me anywhere and all I end up with is a back that's killing me and arms so tired and stiff they can barely move when what I was really hoping for was a beautiful ride on a scenic river in the warmth of the sun and the eagles soaring overhead.
I see now where this particular lenten reflection is going to take more days and more journaling .
                                                      The Muse

Lenten Relection: Thankful for the Psalms

These days of Lent for me have been filled with the overwhelming thoughts of  Japan and it's people  . Our brothers and sisters across the world reeling in such deep despair and pain that to me there isn't a word to be found that would come close to describing it's intensity. Before the days of CNN and internet we heard of such horrific events and we could only imagine ....but now we see the faces and we hear the voices and the words .We see beyond the faces and the voices and the words. WE see the hopelessness ,the crushed hearts and spirits, and we FEEL.  I'm grateful I feel .I'm thankful I cry out to God for those I do not know and will nevr meet . For if I didn't it would mean I am a dead woman walking. It would mean a heart of stone . I thank God for compassion as it leads to action even something as small as a bow of the head , a loving thought or a five dollar donation. But an action doesn't free me from feeling helpless . No matter the things I might do to do my part the feeling of helplessness will remain. But there's a place I can go where others have gone gone before me and have recorded feelings and times of great trial and tribulation ,where one has felt forsaken, crushed ,afraid to the point of death,betrayed ,rejected . I go to the Psalms and here I find words to describe what I cannot describe , phrases in which I can feel the groaning and pleading ,the confusion ,bewilderment ,hopelessness,fear ,anger,lonliness.Lashing out,crying out,silence of not being able to form any words. And all these things are directed at God. And no,lightning does not come down to strike them . There's a safeness in getting real with the Lord.  And as one comes to the end of a Psalm there is always the acknowledgement that refuge and rescue can only come from God ,that we can take shelter under His wings, the One who will sustain us,the Only one who can deliver us from the enemy ,whatever the enemy may be. So I am thankful I can go to the Psalms and find the words of despair that I cannot find myself and pray that my fellow man ,woman and child in Japan and elsewhere will somehow even in a moment find refuge and the gentleness of wings .