This Blog Will be on Vacation until April 24

“Over Easter? Francis… how
could you do that, and not share some
Easter stuff?”

“O.K. here are a few thoughts
to work on!”………

“Light when you need it…and Nourishment
for the dark times.”

The Frog Who Wouldn’t Quit!

Some time ago, while the snow was still on the ground, I saw a robin on a fence post! “Isn’t that something?” I thought. “Those robins just keep believing that spring will come!” Yes, every year, they keep believing. And lo, and behold, it comes!

Easter does come, and every year, we go through Good Friday with all of its sad overtones, its tragic moments and memories. But every year Easter comes to proclaim the victory! Death is not the end. Sadness is not the last word. Joy is! Life is! The resurrection is!

This last winter, many people used their wood fireplaces. To get the logs burning, they used kindling. The flame would begin, and then smolder out. I can see the people down on their knees, blowing and blowing and blowing. Or, they use a piece of newspaper and fan and fan and fan! And just when they are about ready to give up, the flame bursts out, and soon they have a roaring fire with all its light and heat.

Did you hear about the two frogs who fell into a cream bucket? The one frog kicked and paddled and kicked and paddled until he said, “I just can’t go on any longer.” And he didn’t, and he died! The other frog kicked and paddled and kicked and paddled, and he thought he could hardly go on. But he said to himself, “I’ll kick just a little longer” and he did, and suddenly he felt something solid beneath him. He had stirred the cream into butter!

Have you ever felt you just couldn’t go on any longer? Remember the frog. Remember the robin in the spring-time. Remember the fire in the fireplace, and remember the resurrection! Evil wears us down, with all its hurt and agony, and its desperation. But, Easter comes each year to remind us that beyond the agony is the ecstasy, and beyond the darkness is light and victory. Keep hoping, keep praying, keep on paddling, and you’ll find the victory!

God Is A Hugger

A bumper sticker says: “Have you hugged your child lately?” Family advisors tell us it is most important for parents to show a “hugging love” for their children…not from a distance…not by words only…but love with a hug!

In the Cotton Patch Version of the New Testament, the translator takes the verses from II Cor. 5:19 that read, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself” and he writes it: “God was in Christ, hugging the world to himself.” I like that!

God doesn’t love from a distance! He doesn’t do it only with words, or with heat waves, or beds of roses…God loves the world through a Person…a very special Person…Jesus.

Someone has said of Jesus…

“He lived…singing love

He died…singing love

He arose…in silence.”

And if the song is to continue, we must sing it for Him. I don’t know exactly how I am supposed to do that, but I believe I am to continue the resurrection power, by continuing the resurrection love. God hugs the world through you and me.

See you again on April 24, 2006

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