Dear Church Family,
Gathering for worship this past Sunday was a joy-filled experience. Being in the presence of loving and kind hearts, seeing people eye-to-eye, and hearing voices made our time together extraordinary. One thing Covid has brought us is a deep appreciation for being in the presence of others who we love. Something many of us took for granted before the pandemic.
I was especially blessed by knowing that many sitting in the pews have had some major physical challenges or experienced the transitions of significant people in their lives. Each person there could tell a story of how they personally navigated challenges they didn’t anticipate this past year. While the challenge is part of their personal narrative, it isn’t their whole story. And last Sunday they were present with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts – resilient, strong, and loving.
I like the term “true grit,” it implies, spirit, courage, perseverance. I see the essence of “true grit” in your lives, how you handle challenge, annoyance, and discomfort. Part of “true grit,” is realizing that everything is temporary – so we can implode when it gets tough or we can wait it through or take action.
This week as we come into Easter Sunday, we see our Master Teacher, Jesus Christ as someone who illuminates the way of “true grit – beyond true grit” Jesus submits to the travesty that was betrayal and false accusations into death. His “true grit” was a human expression of allowing the travesty to unfold. Sometimes it’s hard to wrap our heads around this – Jesus humbly allowed the travesty to unfold.
And the gift of Easter is that the travesty wasn’t the end of the story. Only the end of a chapter. The next chapter is exciting, mind blowing, and eternal. He endured the travesty – a passing moment of time, to find eternity as our ascended master.
I take great solace in knowing that my many chapters that include heart break, limited thoughts, closed heart and mind are merely bits of the story. The real story that unfolds are the many steps we take toward recovery, generation and regeneration of our unfolding consciousness. The real story is our evolving ability to love, manifest, and understand as spirit. The real story is our “true grit” coming forth and allowing our Master Teacher to show us the way.
Giving thanks for our “true grit,” and the ONE who shows us way.
Easter Blessings to you,
Pastor Robert