It's ugly; it's death, and in church there's no music. We know that the Easter Sunday service will be cool, and we want to skip past the grim grey ghastly gore.
Good Friday sucks.
And it is also the cornertone of our faith, an experience we all will one day live.
And we have to wait for the next thing. (Next is the Five Minute Friday writing prompt this week.)
The reason that the world is round
is we're not meant to see ahead;
our friends now by us, safe and sound
and then, tomorrow, dead.
But that which hides darkness
also hides the coming light,
requiring faith we must confess
that there is an end to night.
The stone rolls to close the Tomb;
can it ever roll away?
If we gain admittance to that room
will we find only decay?
But it's precisely what we can't foresee
that brings new life to you and me.
I had mentioned a while back that I was pulled back from death by my dogs doing canine CPR. Here's a demonstration, courtesy Madrid's Municipal Police.
Music from Needtobreathe, with Keep Your Eyes Open.
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
I don't often share this, because when I have, people look at me as if I'm crazy. But here goes. Good Friday is one of my favorite days in the church year. Yes, I know it's the day we remember Christ's horrible, beyond-our-imagination, suffering and sacrifice and death, but it's a day that comforts me. Perhaps it's knowing that He loved me enough to endure this. Perhaps it's knowing that He walked that path -- the path to death -- long before me and was ultimately victorious. I don't think about the why very often; I just accept how I feel. And I love how you express your own thoughts here, Andrew. I continue to pray for you, and I hope that you and your wife have a wonderful Holy weekend. {{{{{hugs}}}}} your FMF neighbor at #2
ReplyDeletePatti...please perdon the late reply, and I completely agree with you. Good Friday means a lot to me, and it IS probably my favourite day, for the reasons you state.
DeleteWe thank you so much for your prayers! Hugs back!
I agree, sometimes we can want to skip over Good Friday to get to Easter Sunday because it's more comfortable and we know how the story ends but there is a lot of value in sitting in the silence and the waiting. Focusing on how much it cost Jesus is important. Praying for you!
ReplyDeleteLesley, I love the way you put this...'sitting in the silence'.
DeleteThank you so much for your prayers, and please forgive my tardy reply.
It's easier for us to wait for Easter because we already know it's coming. But to live Good Fridays in real life without knowing for sure Easter is around the corner...that's much tougher. But we can know in faith that resurrection is a sure thing. So we cling to Jesus...thanks for sharing this. I am praying for you and yours. Healing grace in abundance!
ReplyDeleteMari-Anna, yes...'knowing in faith'. That is really everything! And so well-said.
DeleteWe thank you so much for your prayers, and ask that you pardon our late reply.
Good Friday truly is the foundation for our faith - without it...we would be creatures most miserable. Praying you have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Easter Sunday!!
ReplyDelete(Love that line in your poem...why the world is round!!)
Jennifer, you are so right...Good Friday is the bedrock.
DeleteThank you so much for your prayers, and please pardon my slow reply.
It's Friday... and I love it for the same reasons you do. Thanks for sharing. This was really good.
ReplyDeleteKaren, thank you so much...and please pardon the very late reply!
DeleteYou're right, Andrew. "Good Friday sucks" but it shows how much Jesus loved us, right? I love your poem and your thoughts always give much to think about. I think it's so cool your dogs can perform cpr for you! And that was a great song by Need To Breathe. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteGayl, I'm so glad you enjoyed this...and yes, the dogs are awesome!
DeleteBlessings back! (And please pardon my tardiness in replying.)
We cannot have Easter without Good Friday! The pain of today is real but it will soon be overcome by the empty tomb. We can't rush to the tomb though.
ReplyDeleteTara, you're so right..."we can't rush to the tomb".
Delete\
Thank you somuch for being here, and please forgive my late reply.
Today he dies, but He will rise!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, yes indeed! And in His rising, so do we.
DeleteThank you for being here, and please excuse my delay in replying.
(((((Andrew)))))
ReplyDeleteIt's almost Easter... forever.
Annie in Texas
((((((Annie!))))))
DeleteYES!!!!!!
(And please pardon my slow reply.)
good post, loved the poem...
ReplyDeleteWise Hearted, thank you so much, and thank you being here.
DeleteAnd please pardon my slow response.
Lovely sentiments and true. Happy Easter to you and Barb. <3
ReplyDeletePaula, thank you so much, and love back from both of us!
Delete(And please excuse my delay in responding.)
Happy Resurrection Day to you, Andrew, and to Barb! Yes, Friday must happen for us to celebrate Jesus "up from the grave" on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSending a new favorite song to you:
https://youtu.be/hwc2d1Xt8gM
It is "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me" by CityAlight. Hope you will be encouraged!
Love & prayers,
Kathryn in SC
Kathryn, thank you so much for th song! It's lovely, and heartening.
DeletePlease excuse my late reply...and we thank you so much for your prayers.
Stephanie, I am so glad you liked this!
ReplyDeleteThank you, so very much, for being here. We appreciate you.