So, pause and reflect on the entire Lenten journey that has brought us to this moment. That's the "Embrace the Uncertain" devotional book's author says that is all we can do. The body of Jesus has been buried. Resurrection celebration is tomorrow. So, yeah, I guess that makes sense. Pause and reflect on the entire Lenten journey.I cannot even think about doing that without first expressing a measure of gratitude for the devotional book and the study guide (which we actually suspended reading due to the disruption of the pandemic COVID 19). I've included a thank you to the author Rev. Magrey deVega for providing such a timely resource to help us walk through this epic Lenten journey of faith. Both his study guide and the devotional were exceptional resources for all of us during this Lenten season.
So what's my reflection on this journey? That might be a challenge to distill it down to one primary sentence. But I'll give it a whirl. All of life will always present uncertainties that will challenge us to discover God's calming and guiding touch. There isn't any secret message to that truth. And hopefully, we are seeking to give God our undivided attention in all things, good or bad. That's my reflection. Short and sweet. It is good for us to rest and take a pause. We need it.
As I close this session of blogging, I reprint this short descriptive phrase which talks about the rests we experience in music. Thanks to my brother, Rev. Dr. Cary Flinck of Berean Baptist Church, for this submission:
There is no music during a musical rest,
but the rest is part of the making of the music!
In the melody of life, the music is separated here and there by rests.
God sends us times of forced leisure
by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts.
He brings a sudden pause in the hymn of our lives,
and we grieve that our part is missing in the music and must be silent.
Yet how does a musician read the rest?
[Counting] the break with unwavering precision
and [playing the] next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there.
God does not write the music of our lives without a plan.
Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests.
They are not to be slurred over or omitted,
nor used to destroy the melody or to change the key.
If we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us.
With our eyes on Him, our next note will be full and clear.
Let’s not forget that the rest is part of the making of the music.
The process is often slow and painful in this life,
yet how patiently God works to teach us!
And how long He waits for us to learn the lesson!
Blessings to all of you this Resurrection Day!
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Postscript: it occurred to me that I had not really ever given the proper credit to The Rev. Magrey deVega who is the Senior Pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida and the author of our books we used during Lent. I am eternally grateful to Rev. deVega for his insights and his unwavering commitment to God's Word.
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