Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage. – The Smashing Pumpkins

He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. – 2 Peter 1:4

Just a few things I believe we have in common with raccoons:

Our desire for security traps us. Little raccoon figured it would be safer in our attic than outside where there are coyotes and such, and he ended up in a trap. There’s no real security in believing what we want to believe. The truth is our real safety. Even when we don’t like the truth.

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There’s a raccoon in a cage in my attic. He’s unhappy.

He’s trying really hard to get out of there. I can hear him banging and pounding away. I wish he’d stop because he’s probably hurting himself. He’s wearing himself down with all that fighting, fighting, fighting.

Little furry dude just doesn’t get it. He will be set free. The best thing he can do right now is quit fighting and trust that there’s a bigger truth than the cage. Trust that there is someone greater than he who can and will set him free.

Not only that, but his freedom will be indicative of that someone..his story a story of grace, mercy, and the glory of God.

But then, he’s a just a raccoon,

…right?

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many of God’s people who had died were raised to life.

Matthew 27:50-52

It’s Good Friday. I’ve always thought it strange that this day is called “good” when it’s the day Jesus died a brutal death on the cross. Today we are on the dying side of Easter.  The wrong side of the fence.

But then…it does make sense in a weird sort of way when I consider my day. I woke up late this morning, took my depression meds, kicked myself for the mistakes I made yesterday, and immediately felt overwhelmed by everything I need to do today. Just a normal day.

Don’t we, in some way or another, fight with death every day? Good Friday is the recognition of the dark and dying side of our beat up, imperfect lives.

Matthew 27:50-52 is one of my favorites bits of scripture. Because get this: at the moment Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn. That curtain supposedly separated the holy space of the temple from the unholy space of us. At the moment Jesus died, there was no more separation.

Jesus tore down the fence between us and God.

This pic is one of many I have taken in Over-the-Rhine. I’m drawn to OTR partly because there it’s clear how close death and life are to each other; just as death and life are close within each of us, and within our world.

The words on the wall and hidden behind the trash are: Repair, Rebuild, Restore.

Do you see the fence? On the other side, there is life.

That’s the fence that Jesus tore.

You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.

Philippians 4:9

The other night I had a nightmare about the church. In it, friends weren’t friends and worship wasn’t worship and I lost my Bible. It was one of those dreams from which you’re glad you wake up.

The church people I know have a different dream for the church. In that dream, the church is a safe place to explore your faith, worship is worship inside and out, and Bible study is the basis for everything we say and do.

God created us and then “saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Gen 1:31) Then God gave us free will. What a combination! You never really know what we’re going to do! If we choose to follow Jesus, who are we following? What did he actually say and do? How often do we run from Christianity or run into Christianity based on rumor and assumptions?

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, a remembrance of Jesus’ celebrated entrance into Jerusalem. The people who crowded the streets welcomed him with expectations mostly based on rumor and assumptions. Then biblically there’s a long week ahead, full of betrayal and agony and death. Then next Sunday is Easter! Rise again. Rise above. Live!

It’s a challenging week in the Christian calendar; like a crazy dream, it’s hard to make sense of it all.

Be challenged! Spend some time reading about Holy Week.

What was Jesus’ dream?