Good Friday

Some sights and sounds from my world this day:

--Thinking all day about that veil that was rent in two---that somehow the bane and blessing of this day is that the souls of men and women are one with the soul of the Son, as he died for the world's pain this day

--Having a heart-touching discussion with Cana about where there really is a hell; and how she and I agree that just because you can't understand something, doesn't mean it's not true

--Purchasing Caleb's birthday present from Loma Vista Hardware (there is a skater shop downstairs) and watching his new skateboard get built in front of our eyes. And him kissing me on the cheek in front of God and everybody right there and then.

--Being a bit surprised that the explicitly Christian business, Hobby Lobby, was open today; I enjoy playing "name that hymn/praise song tune" with the muzak in the store. And seeing for the first time in my life a Resurrection scene complete with figures like a creche, with two centurions, two women, the empty tomb, Jesus dressed in white, and and angel. Guess you could put out/not put out the figures that you need, depending on what year in the lectionary it is.

--I was startled about 10 pm tonight, driving east on 39th street, to see fireworks splashing across the sky in front of me...and then remembering that it was Firework Friday, when at Kauffmann (Royals) stadium, there is a fireworks display every Friday there is a home game. It was startling, though...who would have set off fireworks on the first Good Friday? Rome? The chief priests? The scribes? And that even though there might not be fireworks exploding in my own heart tonight, there are times when I wish I could deny that suffering is a part of human existence. That somehow when things seem to go wrong, I wish I could be like Job's friends and find someone to blame. That I could figure all of it out. That somehow I am complete control of my "destiny." That my perceptions are God's perceptions. And then I am startled again--not by fireworks, but by my screensaver this week, looking through a palm leaf to the cross. And all I really know is that somehow in that cross, of the world has its pain, sin and sorrow that once doomed it to everlasting darkness, consumed by our God.