Water of Life

I've always found water a powerful symbol of the divine. Around lakes, streams, rivers, and even oceans I sense God at work - a cleansing, healing, uniting, loving energy. Throughout history water has served as an important element in Church ritual, blessings with water, baptismal significance, and more. If you were to place water in your life right now in what capacity would it appear -- playing joyfully in a stream, treading busily to stay above water, drowning in exasperation, or is it something else?

I'm mindful this Easter of my baptismal water blessing. I'm aware many years later of my commitment to that calling and what it means to me today. At times I do feel like I am treading busily, attempting to stay on top of work and life. At times I do feel like I am drowning, facing down fear and hurt. Yet, there are those moments in life like playing joyfully in a stream. There are times we burst with laughter, exude excitement, marvel in life's gifts. I'm not sure we are good receptors of God's lavishes, looking only forward and back behind for the next battle, the impending challenge. Is it getting harder or easier in this world to appreciate God's goodness?

Many say we must psyche ourselves up for Lent, strip bare before the cross and shed sinful layers. I'm for this process. I'm also for exulting the risen Lord, psyching myself up to continue to receive God's blessings and gifts, being able to side with hope and goodness over fear and despair, admitting that laughter and friendship, radiance and family, life and neighbors are all nuggets of the divine scattered and sown throughout the world. If anything, Easter reminds us that the "drowning waters" are nothing compared to fountains of human goodness that stems from God's abundance love. Light rises through darkness, good triumphs over evil, life conquers death, and ultimately God's love overcomes worldly power and hate.

Play joyfully in a steam or lake this Easter. Acknowledge how good God is to you (and don't feel guilty about it!) and strive to make your baptismal call real - the primordial vocation of all Christians. Alleluia!

Calm Before the Storm

We know from the Bible that on Good Friday the clouds darkened and Jesus's worldly life came to an end. Jesus was murdered and crucified for our sins - but perhaps more importantly out of love, unconditional and radical love for humanity. This is what/why we celebrate next week in Holy Week - Jesus's mission and ministry - his death.

As Palm Sunday approaches and Jesus's walk to his death in Jerusalem becomes more immanent, let us remember that this week is the calm before the storm. Are we ready (really ready!) to welcome and receive what Jesus's dying and resurrection means? Don't let Holy Week sneak up on you. Don't let Easter become just about getting ham and decorating eggs.

Jesus will be led away, tried, convicted, humiliated and insulted, and hung on a cross next week. It's a whirlwind week of action and remembrance, liturgy and song, prayer and fasting, community and unity.

In the doing Holy Week, how are we to be?

As the clouds begin to darken and the transforming event nears, what spiritually is at stake for me? For us?

This week - the calm before the storm. Take stock.