Newsletter Article for April 2014: __ When I was 12 years old I bought my dog, Samson, for $75. I still remember the amount because that was a fortune for 12 year old me. I imagine that this purchase wiped out much of my savings. That $75 could have bought some expensive lego sets and toys, but I wanted a dog. I’m really glad that I was able to buy Samson myself. I’m also glad I got to experience the duties of taking care of him - feeding him, picking up after him in the yard, and taking him for a walk. As a result of getting those things done I could enjoy his company and friendship over the years. Furthermore, knowing the cost of owning a dog helped me appreciate him all the more. As a result of bearing much of that “cost” myself I was proud to say that he was mine; that meant something to me because I bought him and cared for him. We are currently in the season of Lent which leads up to Easter. This season in the church calendar includes some dark times - namely Good Friday which is the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion on the hill of Golgotha. It seems odd that the church has chosen to remember such a painful time. I would think, on first thought, that holidays are more for celebrating happy times. Nevertheless, Good Friday always precedes the joy of Easter; we can’t get to the resurrection until we walk through Jesus’ pain and agony of being abandoned by friends and then dying on a cross. I wonder if it’s important to remember such dark days because it reminds us of the cost that God endured to show us what love is like. When we dwell on the cost we may begin to see the depth of God’s love for the world and for us. And then when we arrive at Easter morning we can rejoice in the great love of God because we know what’s behind that love. We’ll have glimpsed how much it cost God. “But he was wounded for our transgression, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) -Rev. Nate
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:06:20 +0000
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