Do you ever feel like you've got nothing left? This is a common feeling for clergy during Holy Week but that usually doesn't hit until we get through all of the services and collapse after worship on Easter afternoon. But it's Tuesday. We've got a long way to go to Easter - except - it's not in the way that we're used to. And I think it's because we've spent a lot of time in Holy Week.
We talk about what we give up in preparation for Easter? What can we let go of so we can draw closer to God? Or what can we add to our lives so that we can more fully celebrate Easter? We had no idea 6 weeks ago that we would be giving up so very much. And when we give stuff up during Lent we know exactly how long we are doing it. We do not know how much longer we will be practicing physical distancing. We do not know how much longer we will need to modify so much of our lives in order to protect each other.
We feel the darkness. Not the darkness that we hear about on Christmas Eve from John Chapter 1: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." Because when we hear these words we are surrounded by candles and the Christmas lights in the greenery all around us. We walk out feeling good and ready to tackle whatever comes our way. In John 12:35 Jesus says "walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you." Jesus does not say we have to push on through the darkness, no quite the opposite. We walk while we have the light.
On this Holy Tuesday, be gentle with yourself. Do not feel like you have to tackle the whole journey all at once. Walk while we have the light.
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