Woke up "late" this morning, ate breakfast and did my devotions in peace after seven extra people in the house this weekend. Getting ready to go to church, the calm and quiet was the perfect balm for the harried and people filled last few days.
Although I wouldn't trade them for anything, these past few days have been filled with the hustle and bustle of everyday life combined with balancing my two worlds of school and the spring play.
And so I slipped on shoes, zipped up my coat, and set foot in the beautiful world outside.
It's turning to spring (fingers crossed) and the weather outside is gorgeous, if but a tad windy.
I reveled in the quiet, the distant greetings of seniors as they made their way to church, the way the new green tips of the fir trees contrasted against the clear blue of the sky, and how at peace everything was.
I didn't need to say a word.
We just sat there, in a way, me and Him. Me: listening, smiling, and loving Him for all that He has created. Him: smiling at my joy and agreeing with me.
I arrived at church, greeted people I knew and truly worshiped as the songs were sung, and others around seemingly faded as this joy and peace settled over me and I was in a moment of thanksgiving.
And the pastor got up and started speaking, and it took me by surprise to find out that today was Palm Sunday.
The pastor started talking about how He walked over the Mount of Olives and rode a donkey, fulfilling key prophecies that people recognized by calling Him the Son of David.
But the other thing that they called out, while laying down robes and palm branches.... a Hosanna.
A way of praising... but its meaning? Something that made think:
"Please save" or "save now".
They were crying this out as the one whose name is Jesus, Yeshua, the Lord who saves, was riding into Jerusalem.
Do you see the promise? Hear the eminent coming of a victory?
And not that long after, He answered their cry.
He answered by hanging on a cross, by providing a way to be saved.
It's so sad how sometimes we as a culture, and most definitely me, as an individual, view Easter as a time of no school, more church services, spending time with family, of even gruesome death and pain.
But view it as the fulfillment of centuries of people's groaning, pain, suffering, and crying out of "Hosanna!"?
Viewing it as the answer to my cry of "Hosanna!" when life overwhelms and threatens to crush the joy of life out of me?
Easter brings so much more than dyeing eggs, dressing up little children in cute clothes, spending time with family and taking a much-needed breather.
It brings the answer to the world's cry of "Hosanna!".
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