Resurrection Conditions

this is the week to pay attention

Last month we went to Savannah for a long weekend. It was supposed to be a long weekend away where we could enjoy the warmth of the southern sun while strolling through the famed squares of the city. This so happened to be the week of the arctic blast. The cold, damp air of the north followed us all the way south. We were wrapped in wool coats all weekend long. Every where we went, comments were made about bringing our weather with us to the south.

But, in the midst of all that cold, damp air, something else happened. The resurrection ferns came to life.

The resurrection fern is found growing on the famed live oaks all over Savannah. The plant looks dry and dead most of the time-until the rain comes. No one wanted the cold, damp air, the unseasonable rain. In fact there was lots of complaining about it-mainly because those conditions were just so unexpected. It was supposed to be mid 60s not low 30s. It was supposed to be a warm reprieve of southern sunshine. But the supposed to’s had no bearing on what was. And the resurrection of those lush ferns was dependent on things going exactly as they did.

I may not like the conditions that breed resurrection. But what I am coming to understand, be it ever so slowly, is that the resurrection is worth it.

Holy Week is full of unexpected events and expectations turned upside down. I believe that is why its my favorite week. Everything happened just as it needed to and not at all how anyone thought it would.

Today is Palm Sunday. If your day was filled with cries of Hosanna and feeling so good about the welcome of Jesus, respectfully, the point of this day may have been lost. Yes, those same people would be silent in a few days time. Yes, Jesus was entering Jerusalem to face his death and he knew it. But here is the most important: those that filled the streets of Jerusalem thought a political conquerer was coming, someone to overthrow the Romans and put them securely in a place of earthly power. They could not see that something far better had come. Palm Sunday reminds us that our expectations can cloud our ability to see what is before us. We extend those expectations all the way to God himself. They did it then and we do it still today.

Some of the questions I am asking myself this Palm Sunday… Do I think I know what is going to happen and in so doing block my ability to see the truth before me? Do I settle for less than what is truly offered to me because I yearn for ease?

The big reason I love these days leading to Easter is they are messy and complicated. There is more than one thing happening at any given moment. There are miracles and grief together at every turn. And it is so good for us to pay attention to both. Don’t look away this week. We are called to stay and witness both grief and miracles.

We grieve the empty cries of Hosanna. We grieve the presumptions and clinging to power. We recognize the miracle of the king on a donkey.

This is Holy Week. Grief and Miracles-may we welcome them both.

---

Two posts in one week is a lot for me. And while I believe each day of this week is important and requires our witness, I will not be posting essays for each day. Instead I will be sharing Substack Notes so I don’t flood your inbox. If you want to follow along be sure to download the Substack app.

If you want to know who Jesus really is this is the week to pay attention.

May we not look away.

My newest book, Peace in the Dark is available wherever books are sold. Might I suggest supporting an independent bookstore such as nooks You can pickup my other books Life Surrendered or Break Bread Together Available wherever books are sold: Amazon | Leafwood