Good: Today is Maundy Thursday. Today is the day Christians remember Jesus dining with his disciples and sharing his body and blood through bread and wine. It was their Last Supper together (yes, like the famous painting), and Jesus commissioned a new commandment: Love one another. He did not add ‘only if they are look like you’ or ‘only if you like what they do.’ What a challenge for us was given that night through those three simple words. Remember WWJD? What would Jesus do? He would love one another – everyone. And He wants us to love also. Above everything else.
Good. It’s Masters Weekend! I love watching golf the next four days. With heavy rain expected Saturday and Sunday it may go beyond the weekend. Who will put on the green jacket at the end?
Bad. My sister-in-law Linda had a stroke about two weeks ago, and while in the hospital tests were run. Yesterday we got the results back on a biopsy of cells from her mass on her pancreas. Cancer. Stage 4, which means it has spread beyond the pancreas into the liver. It’s not good at all. We all know of people, some famous, some friends, who have gotten this diagnosis. As Linda’s sons and siblings decide what is best for her, she still has short term memory loss from the stroke. So, she has been told about the cancer but quickly forgot it. A blessing in disguise.
Good and bad. Ex-president Trump has been indicted, was briefly arrested, and then arraigned on crimes of fraud and cover-up. Why good and bad? No one is above the law, even someone who held the highest office in our nation, who once worked with the top people in our justice system. This case is a New York State indictment of charges, but Trump is also surely going to be indicted soon on at least two federal cases. He will be in the news for months ahead for the criminal activity AND because he still plans to run for president again. It’s actually quite unbelievable. But, so is he. I have written volumes in the past about the man, and I truly believe either you know – or you have your head in the sand. The piles of sand were brought to you by a group of liars, conspiracy creators, and those only caring about getting rich.
Bad. The Nashville school shooting. It just keeps getting worse. On top of the pain of 3 children and 3 adults senselessly killed in a mass shooting, now 3 Tennessee state Democratic Representatives may be censured for their right of freedom of speech and peacefully protesting with Nashville students in the courthouse. Do you realize how dangerous this is? I am actually beside myself over it.
Ugly. I’m not talking physically ugly. Instead what is ugly is the people who allow children to die by guns – now the number one killer of kids. I have experienced some ugly-ness on Facebook lately by some who won’t even consider gun safety progress because they want to hold on to their guns like it’s a ticket to paradise. I have never understood a deep desire for a gun, or for feeling like any object is that important. Especially when comparing it to letting children live.
Good. I have got to finish this post with some good. Right? For me it’s watching my garden come back to life. It’s pulling weeds (I love pulling weeds) and planting some annuals. I picked up some impatiens yesterday and plan to put them in the ground today. I also got a few other flowers to put into pots. Spring has sprung. Easter is almost here. Life – and re-life. Plants I thought were dead are coming back, reaching up, and getting ready to show their beautiful flowers. Just as Jesus died and everyone then thought it was over. God knew otherwise. Death was conquered. Not the end. Easter is hope. Salvation. Reunion.
So, I will end this with a final thought about the fact that my Dad’s body is still holding on (at 96 years old, after hip surgery) even though he desperately wants to experience Easter. For his sake, I hope it happens soon.
Marla’s Musings 