...a word from Kathy

I n the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the season of Lent is described as a “bright sadness.”  I've only recently heard this term and it has pierced my mind and thoughts. So today, I simply offer some questions. During the 40 days and nights that Jesus was in the wilderness, did he experience a bright sadness? During the temptations that Jesus faced, was there a bright sadness? (according to writings of Henri Nouwen, these temptations were being relevant, being spectacular, being powerful)  When I experience the temptations of relevancy, the longing to be spectacular, and power, can I see bright sadness in my life? When my life goes awry, can I find bright sadness? In Rolling Fork, Nashville, California, China, Russia, Eukraine, is there bright sadness? Do I dare to live my life in bright sadness? When Jesus was in the wilderness, was He bright with joy although He knew what days were ahead?   Is the way of bright sadness a process?  Perhaps we look at Lent in the wrong...

O ne mystery surrounding Jesus were His upside-down teaching points.  The weak will be strong.  The  first will be last.  The rich will be poor.  The greatest will be the least.  This perplexed the people of Jesus' day and still perplexes many of us.  This upside-down life teaching is counter-cultural to all else we see, hear, and experience in our daily lives.  Right? And now we're in a spiritual season that takes us to wilderness or to desert times.  Most of my life, I've thought of the desert as a place of pain, of want, of isolation.  It reminds me of the annual, dreaded doctor visit and the thought, "I really don't want to do this but know I should"!  BUT, what if this wilderness is another example of Jesus' upside-down teaching?  What if the wilderness is where the blessing finds us? Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights,...

H onestly, some verses from the Bible bother me.  I don't understand their meaning.  However, I totally accept that I will not understand many things until heaven arrives!  But I do like to ponder and reflect.  Ponder with me today? Consider these verses from three books of the Bible. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil . Luke 4:1-2 Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, by God Himself?  Why?  Why would God lead him, or me, or you into deserts?  I do not like the desert.  The desert makes me fearful; it strips me bare; it hurts, it wounds me. ...