randomness...

i have a lot floating through my mind lately.  feeling a bit bi-polar.  but when you are me that is totally normal. :)  over the weekend a guy who went to the same high school as me had a massive stroke and went home to Jesus this morning. when sudden grief strikes anyone i know or don't know, i always find myself walking back through moments in my life when sudden grief struck me. and then all i want to do is help people. even though we aren't eating casseroles, i want to make like 12 of them for complete strangers.  i want to sit down and talk to the wife of the younger brother who just lost his only sibling, because i have held the hand of the younger brother who lost his only sibling as he stood at his brother's funeral and made a tribute. i want to tell her so many things. i want to encourage her somehow, someway. i want the younger brother mark, to meet MY mark, because i don't know a more sensitive, thoughtful, person, who could walk this road. i want to give the mother of this young man the number of my mother-in-law and tell her to call her... because if anyone understands her grief it is my gracious, kind, and amazing, mother-in-law. i want to give the father of this young man larry littlejohn's cell phone number, because larry knows. and then i just burst into tears when i think about the wife and daughter left behind. 

somehow while sorting through some thoughts about this family's grief i am keenly aware that this is the week we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Jesus... hi-jacked by a hare. no wonder this world is full of depressed, overwhelmed, and hopeless people. we traded in, "the word became flesh" for an overweight, out of breath old man who judges the good deeds and the bad deeds of children. and then grants them gifts based on their actions. and we traded in the death and resurrection of Jesus for a weak, ugly, bunny rabbit with pastels (YUCK!)  thankfully, despite who i am and what i have done, my Jewish carpenter, my Abba, my everything, who i call Savior, pours His goodness on me continually. not because of me or anything in me, but because His Son rescued me on the cross. and did not stay in the grave, but through victory conquered death.

i've said it many times grief and joy must learn to meld together in the hearts of those who trust Jesus. sharing the dance floor of this life. this week has not only held sadness but EXTREME anticipation and excitement for our Bentzs to arrive from VA. all six of them will journey the 2200 miles (round trip) because they want to be with US (what other reason do they have to visit Kansas? ;) friendship is about pursuing each other despite distance, despite obstacles, despite the trials of riding in a mini van for 40 hours with four children.  real friendship is intentional and purposeful. this trip makes us all feel so very loved!

i know i seem to be all over the place. i warned you.

please pray for the nagel family when you think of them.
please take a minute and consider the REAL reason we celebrate Easter.
and please pray for our friend's safety and sanity as they drive the unforgettable drive from KG to KC :)

if i don't write before then,
Happy Easter, He is Risen, He reigns, He is coming for us..... oh, glorious day!
~s