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The Courage to
Release Expectations
 

Our Lenten walks continue along the various trails of Red Deer. So too, our Lenten theme helps us unwrap our various experiences of courage along the way. This week our readings give us resurrection type stories that point to a greater purpose.

From Ezekiel we have the story of the dry bones coming back to life. I know it’s a great metaphorical tale, but doesn’t your
imagination take you right to a description of an original “zombie apocalypse?” Sorry – I digress. This is a powerful story of God restoring new life just when the people of Israel thought all was lost.

The gospel reading is about the raising of Lazarus. We see a very human Jesus described in this story, as he weeps for his friend. We also see another “sign” of God incarnate in Jesus. Both these readings teach us in a powerful way, that death does not have the last word. The indwelling of the divine always has the ability to bring about new life, even when it appears that all is lost.

There is great hope conveyed here that will carry us through Holy Week, Good Friday, and on to Easter Sunday.

There are many ways we experience resurrection. Each time we have the courage to let go of something that is not working any more, like a church program, we are creating the space for something else to form and take shape in its place. That’s one way we can stay relevant to the world around us. In faith communities, sometimes it takes courage to let go of our own
expectations because of how things used to be, in order to imagine a greater purpose. May we have the courage to let go when we need to, and imagine something different, full of hope and new life.

Peace and joy,
Nancy