River of Light

In his book The Art of Pilgrimage, Phil Cousineau writes that in every pilgrimage, there is a secret room, a place along the path that gives us insight into the deep mystery of our journey. In describing this hidden room, Cousineau draws on a story that poet Donald Hall tells of friends who purchased an old farmhouse. Cousineau writes,

“It was a ‘warren of small rooms,’ and once they settled in and began to furnish their new home they realized that the lay of the house made little sense. Peeling off some wallpaper, they found a door that they pried open to reveal a tiny room, sealed off and hidden, goodness knows why: They found no corpses nor stolen goods.” For Hall, the mystery of poetry to evoke powerful feelings finds its analogy here, in its ability to be sealed away from explanation, this is the place where ‘the unsayable gathers.’

And so it is on the pilgrim’s path. Everywhere you go, there is a secret room. You must find your own, in a small chapel, a tiny cafe, a quiet park, the home of a new friend, the pew where the morning light strikes the rose window just so. As a pilgrim you must find it or you will never understand the hidden reasons why you really left home.

Where is your secret room? Let me share my quiet room on Easter morning. I am perched high on a hill in Ellison Park. It is 6am. My fingers are freezing holding the camera on a monopod, waiting for first light. The predawn sky is showing signs of light with colors of red and purple. The clouds are quite strange and unusual.

The sunlight that peaks over the hill is harsh and bright. No cute orange ball here to show off to your friends. Rather, something more mysterious and profound is happening due to the cloud formation. The sun behind the clouds is creating a “river of light” that seems to flow from a waterfall cascading through the clouds. You see the stunning moment is not the sun coming over the horizon, but rather, how the light streams through the clouds in patterns and shapes that form a river of light.

Perhaps this is the true meaning of Easter, This is the place where ‘the unsayable gathers.’ Each second, the scene changes as the sun slowly rises piercing it sunlight through the clouds, each moment a living link with our maker, each an embodiment of his vision and love, each a threshold beckoning me deeper into my own creative path and reminding me why I set out on it in the first place.

And you? Did the pilgrimage through Lent offer you a secret room? Somewhere along the way, did you find a place that offered, not an explanation of your path, but a window onto it, a space within it that enabled you to see it anew, and the one who called you there? Where was it, and what did you find there? How does it illuminate the way before you?

God prays for us as we reflect: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” (Psalm 46:4).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that they remember that Easter is not just a day but rather a season. May the gift and challenge of the resurrection go with you, and may the path ahead be graced with secret rooms and sunrises that flow like a river of light.

Whos's Gonna Move That Rock, Ladies?

These three ladies--Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome--are making their way to the tomb with the intention of anointing the dead, lifeless body of Jesus with spices. So early Sunday morning, the morning after the Sabbath, these ladies got up with the intention of anointing the dead body of Jesus. That was their plan. That’s what they intended to do--nothing more, nothing less.

They were not expecting a miracle. They were not expecting the Resurrection. They were certainly not expecting Jesus to be alive. They were not expecting anything of significance to happen. They were simply going to the tomb for the gruesome, heart wrenching task of anointing the dead, lifeless body of Jesus.

As they were walking down the road to get to the tomb, it dawns on one of them, that they have a problem--a rather significant problem. A big question arises. The women ask each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

It’s a very good question. They can’t roll the stone away themselves. How are three little women going to make that rock roll? How in the world are they going to move that thing?

A family bought some boulders for landscaping--really, big rocks to use as part of their landscape design for the front of the house. One of the boulders seemed really, really big, and because of the tendency to change her mind someone reminded mom: “you tell us exactly where you want this rock because once it’s on the ground, it’s not moving.” This huge boulder is not like the end tables, couch and everything else that’s not nailed down in our house that seems to be moved every other Saturday. Once this baby is in place--it’s there until Jesus returns.”

Who is going to move the rock from in front of the tomb? Now you understand it’s a perfectly good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. If Jesus were as dead as dead could be then that would be a very good question to ask. Who is going to remove the stone? It is a question that I hear people asking even today.

People say: “I have a huge obstacle to overcome. I was abandoned as a child, how can I ever feel accepted? Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. Or they say, “My life is in shambles after being laid off, when will I ever find work again?“ Or they say, “My alcoholic mother told me don't expect any help to care for my brat once my baby was born, how can I ever forgive her for her cruel and bitter attitude? My marriage is a mess, how could it ever be made right? Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb. I hear students complain, “I’m failing the semester and in such a rut over a bad habit—alcohol and drugs or whatever--how can I ever break free?” Good question . . . if Jesus were still in the tomb!

But people, it’s a brand new day! Jesus is not in that old grave! He is not in the tomb. You won’t find a tombstone that reads: “Here lies Jesus Christ. May He rest in peace.” No! Jesus is alive. And just as He conquered death and defeated our ultimate foe He can defeat whatever burdens you are experiencing at this moment. This is a day for hope not despair. There is no obstacle in your life that He can not handle!

Who’s gonna move that rock, ladies? Jesus has already taken care of that problem! Who’s going to take care of obstacles in your life? Jesus Christ is more than able to handle anything that comes your way.

God prays for us as we reflect: “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!” (Psalm 18:46).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on this Resurrection Day. With this prayer of faith. He was bruised and brought healing! He was dead and brought life! When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face death, He carries me home! God is by my side and all is well with my soul.

New Vision

So where are your palms this morning? Of course, you came to church yesterday because they were giving something away for free. But as you held those palms during the reading of the passion story, let me give you another insight on their purpose. You know these palms once dried will become next year’s ashes to mark the beginning of Lent. However, by holding these palms in your hands I like to take you back to the Stations of the Cross and have you stand at the Fifth Station: Simon is “forced” to carry Jesus' cross.

Let me give you a glimpse of what this station is really all about. These who stand a long time at this station are all the people who carry crosses they did not want or ask for or bargain for. No one wanted to lose his or her job, or home. No one wanted the bipolar spouse or dementia parent, the physically challenged child, the cancer, the addiction, the divorce, the depression unwanted crosses of all descriptions.

Too many of us have the name of Simon of Cyrene, and mildly put, we are steamed and angry with God and frustrated—not to say exhausted. But the longer we stand here, the more we absorb the tradition that says that if Simon started out with anger—he wanted no part of Jesus’ crosses; he was forced into it. Despite our major temper tantrums, when we scream, “not again Lord.” We find ourselves “forced” into dilemmas we never planned on and certainly don not need at this season of our life.

However, despite these crosses, something creeps into our vision. After a time of carrying the cross with Jesus, like Simon of Cyrene we are both moved to understanding, and from understanding we move on to love, and from love we move into our salvation, and became, as it were, a co-redeemer with Jesus. Could this be your calling?

God prays for us as we reflect: “Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:9).

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends during Holy Week that we receive the grace of compassion to help carry the crosses that will be placed into our hands like those palms. With your strength, may we receive the grace to lift the crosses of our friends and gently lead them in their journey to your healing hands and heart.