My apologies in advance for such a crude title--how's that for the name of a Christian blog? I'm not trying to be sensationalistic, but I try to be real, so I thought I'd say it like it is.
Basking in the Glow
On my morning walk last Monday, I was basking in the glow of my collaboration with God—rather, God's working through me—for last week's blog on Sunday night. I was reliving how much I had enjoyed writing a post about enjoying God. Traces of God's pleasure during the act of writing still lingered in my mind.
But Then, Life Happens
But then my dog pooped on the sidewalk.
Trying to avoid sharing just how disgusting it was, let me simply say it was quite challenging to clean up. So much for basking in the glow of God's pleasure.
Valleys and Peaks
Life, in its unpredictable rhythm, often juxtaposes our moments of spiritual highs with the immediate and sometimes jarring realities of the mundane, or even the unpleasant. It can even slap us in the face.
This unexpected encounter with my dog's mess on the sidewalk, though trivial in the grand scheme, reminded me of a deeper, more profound truth that resonates especially as we begin Holy Week.
Holy Week itself is a journey from the highest of highs—Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, celebrated with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna!"—to the lowest of lows, culminating in His crucifixion. In a matter of days, Jesus went from being hailed as a king to being mocked, tortured, and nailed to a cross.
Yet, He walked that path knowingly, willingly, and with a love so profound that it sought to save not just me, not just you, but all of humanity. Jesus endured the ultimate "poop on the sidewalk" because He knew He needed to in order to storm the gates of hell to rescue you and me from the punishment we deserved: eternal suffering in the form of separation from Him and all that is good.
Jesus trudged through the pain and suffering because He knew what lay on the other side: new life, resurrection, a forever party on the new earth with all of His best friends. Thankfully, that includes you and me, and everyone who has received His gift of grace.
Good news, indeed. That's the gospel.
Jesus's Holy Week
In light of Jesus's terrible Holy Week, my minor inconvenience on a Monday morning walk pales. Yet, it serves as a metaphor for the trials and "messes" we encounter daily.
While it's true that life seems to scatter more challenges and hardships along our path than blessings, these trials are not without purpose. Just as Jesus's suffering was imbued with the ultimate purpose of redemption, our struggles, too, can lead us to a deeper understanding and closer relationship with God. Or, in 5 minutes or 50 years, they can prepare us to walk with a brother or sister in Christ who is just beginning the same struggles God helped us endure.
God's ways are often strange and baffling to us, and I'm learning to be OK with that, even if I don't always like it.
Our Holy Week
The message of Holy Week is not just about enduring suffering, but it's about the transformative power of love and sacrifice. It's a reminder that beyond the "poop" lies the promise of resurrection, of new life, and of paradise. This perspective doesn't diminish the reality of our trials, but it does offer a hope that is both sustaining and empowering.
As we walk through our days, let's remember that while the sidewalk of life may occasionally be messy, our journey doesn't end there. The messes we encounter, both big and small, are part of a larger narrative—one that ends in victory.
Because of Jesus's sacrifice, we can endure the challenges of today with our eyes fixed on the eternal tomorrow. We are not alone in our struggles; we walk with a Savior who has gone before us, enduring the unimaginable out of love for us.
Beyond the Struggle
So, when life throws its inevitable messes onto our path, let's face them with grace, knowing that our current trials are but a momentary inconvenience when compared to the glory that awaits us. Let's push through the pain and misery, not because we enjoy the struggle, but because we are assured of what comes after—an eternity in paradise, secured for us through the most selfless act of love and sacrifice.
Poop happens on the sidewalk of life, but so does resurrection. And it is in this hope that we find the strength to persevere, the courage to push forward, and the joy of knowing that the best is yet to come.
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