Spring Surprises

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

There's so much to worry about these days. Making ends meet from month to month, my sister's battle with cancer (with these two things the list is long enough), my youngest son's progress at school, finding a new job. And most recently the viability of our current rental situation has come into question. Needless to say, there's been a lot on my heart and mind, and quite honestly I've been feeling the weight of it all.

This morning a little cup of wildflowers were sitting in my kitchen window. Jennifer must have picked them and placed them there yesterday. They turned my thoughts towards Matthew 6. Moments later, I read my sister's blog about learning to give up control (and the anxiety that comes with it http://www.whatitmeanstobeheld.blogspot.com/). Both were fresh reminders that God is laboring, spinning, growing, and blooming HIS plan for me.

It inspired me to take Sean outside with the camera to capture some of the surprising spring miracles in our very own yard:



































The crabtree Sean is climbing will soon be in full bloom! What a miracle in the making! My Great Gardener shall supply ALL my needs. . .

Matthew 6:25-34 "Why do you worry? See how the lillies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these!"

Therefore I tell you, "Do not worry about your life!"

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"Who Will Roll Away The Stone?"

Sunday, April 12, 2009

It's been a difficult week for my family. Wednesday before Easter my sister, Sue, was diagnosed with sinus cancer. We were surprised by this news, and have been reeling with questions about what this might mean for her life and journey over the coming weeks and months. One thing we know for sure is that treatment will include surgery to remove the infected sinus bone and to rebuild her face prosthetically. Tomorrow she and her husband, Jason, meet with a team of doctors to learn more specifics about Sue's case and what can be done for this type of cancer.

As her sister, I have been grieving the difficulties she'll face. Every morning I wake up to the sunrise and simply start to cry. I'm just so sad. And I've been yearning for Easter morning in an "immediate need" kind of way.

It felt so good to be in church today with the enthusiastic Easter phrase repeated numerous times, "He is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia!" In today's message, Pastor suggested that the Easter story (as told in the gospel of Mark) reminds us that universally we're a people whose default setting tends to be fear. He pointed out that in original manuscripts, Mark's closing verse in the powerful, inspiring resurrection story (vs 8) is "Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." And he reminded us that it's okay to be fearful because we're a people who need Jesus to comfort us.

It was good to hear this. But, for some reason I'm not afraid for Sue. Sad yes. But, she's a strong woman, and the only way through this is through this; I have no doubt she'll survive this road with the help of her Creator, family, and friends. And so the piece of the Easter story that struck me most this morning was when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices so that they can go and annoint the body of Jesus.

I can picture them with arms linked, grief pulling at their hearts as they walked towards the tomb where Jesus was laid. And I'm challenged by the fact that not until they arrived at the tomb did they begin to deal with the impossibility before them:

"Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

Gosh. I'm such a thinker (and maybe a bit of a control freak) I probably would've thought of this all too obvious problem before starting out. I mean, three girls, heavy stone, rolling it uphill? But, if Salome and her sisters in Christ had spiraled into forward thinking, would they have even started on the journey in the first place? Would they have spent money on spices? Would they have walked the dusty road to the tomb? Would they have risked being caught by Roman authorities?

Would they have been the first to witness--firsthand-- resurrection power?

Their example is a wonderful road map for me in sharing this journey with my sister. And it's also a picture of the faith journey:

We just start out. Together. We don't need to jump head to the next thing until we get there. And if we have questions along the way, we'll soon discover they've already been handled. God's in the business of rolling away stones! And the best part is that He also sends angels to remind and comfort us,
"Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He has risen!"



Sue has started a blog to keep everyone updated on her journey, and she does an amazing job describing her feelings and thoughts since this diagnosis. Feel free to read her story, and won't you help pray, pray, pray her through this?? It would mean so much. . .


My daughter Jen, Jason, Sue

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