“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!”
The Alleluia of Easter
while living in a Good Friday world,
King David’s words resonate with me increasingly
as I near the day of celebration.
Caspar David Friedrich 1833
My Lenten journey has been long
as I’ve plumbed new depths of relationship
with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Spiritual discoveries gained through exploration
of new directions led by Holy Spirit,
that voice behind me saying,
"This is the way you should go,”” Is 30.21.
From the very inception of this Lenten journey
I have been led on a new path.
Not a common path of caffeine or sugar sacrifice;
A path of inner recognition; a path of listening and hearing;
a path of relational focus;
An uncommon path of sacrificing distractions.
I was impelled to answer the searching gaze that queried,
“What is keeping you occupied?
What has your attention?
Your focus? Your heart?”
Which is, of course, what God is always pursuing;
our heart. My heart in this case.
And was it a worthy focus? A worthy occupation?
These attractions; these distractions
that so cleverly kept my attention?
Anaesthetizing me to the very relationship
to which I’m called and for which I’m created.
The questions searched the depths of me; my core.
Which they must if I am to be changed.
To be conformed to the image
of the One who designed and desires me as His own.
And so the journey continues.
Hearing, now that I’m listening.
Listening, now that I’m hearing.
The joy and beauty of a developing love relationship.
By spending time together.
Which is exactly what this Lenten journey has provided. Focused time – together.
Time intentionally redirected to God.
Reading and re-reading His love letters.
Conversation. Notes taken in those conversations.
Ah hah moments of revelation.
Gratitude and reflection.
Contemplation of beauty – His beauty.
Of person, heart, love, nature.
‘Altogether lovely’, isn’t He described in scripture?
And I’ve - we’ve – been invited
to discover this loveliness for ourselves.
And so I enter into Easter.
Into this celebration of joy.
Undivided in heart and attention.
In heart satisfying relationship with my Saviour.
And with all Easter people I joyfully proclaim,
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!
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