With the headlines over the past week, it can be tempting to believe that the world is a dark place and that there is nothing that we can do. It can even be tempting to seek vengeance in the name of justice. As I continued to reflect on the horror that is the Goswell case, a soft voice came to me in prayer seeking mercy, seeking intercession for his soul, the soul that was created by God to love Him just as much as mine was. I was reminded that Jesus asks for mercy for us and from us, to leave eternal justice to the Author of Life. When I logged onto Facebook earlier today, I came across this article shared by a priest in our diocese which is challenging, but so clearly gave me confirmation that the voice I heard was in fact the voice of the Lord. With him facing the death penalty (which I didn't realize until I read the article), I know the Lord is asking us to be that prophetic voice, making little sense in the ways of the world, but seeking mercy on this man's life, a life which somewhere allowed evil to be the louder voice, a life which still has the opportunity to repent and turn to God, unless we take his life into our hands and away from Him.
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-28,32,35-36
Then today. Today that threatened to make us lose our center, lose our perspective that good outweighs evil. Today when evil once again hit the streets, this time in Boston, taking innocent lives and wreaking havoc. Isn't that what evil likes to do? Throw us off our game enough that our senses become dulled by the numbness that enough senseless evil threatens to create, and maybe we will forget that there is a greater force at work in the world, that there is a Person who has made a promise that the gates of hell would NOT prevail.
1) Blessed am I that all those I know who might have been in the Boston Marathon area are safe.
2) Blessed am I that my faith continues to inform me that light overcomes darkness, even when it seems like darkness just won't subside. (Not a reference to spring in Michigan, either!)
3) Blessed am I that I have a job that provides me great flexibility to do what I need to for and with my family. That includes the ability to spend the afternoon in the warming spring weather out with my littles.
4) Blessed am I that Li'l G is an amazing girl, though she is growing up so fast. Tonight she actually cleaned up all her blocks and toys by herself while I gave Baby J a bath. All by herself! Then she heard J Dawg crying in the tub when I ran the water, so she put on her sunglasses and came to distract him. We are so very blessed with beautiful children, inside and out.5) Blessed an I that I have a Hubbers who works two jobs so that I can enjoy a flexible part time one and stay home with the kids more.
6) Blessed am I that I have a Hubbers who supports my hobbies and passions, and encourages me to write and photograph more often.
7) Blessed am I that the Hubbers does laundry. We would never have clean clothes for ourselves otherwise, but the littles would look great!
In this Easter season, let us never be so filled with sorrow that we forget the joy and promise of Christ risen. Let us always be thankful for that, alleluia!
No comments:
Post a Comment