How Could I Have Missed It?

I missed it! All the solemn intentions of Ash Wednesday to prepare thoughtfully and prayerfully through Lent for the celebration of Easter were scattered in the whirlwinds of a Martha-life. Unlike the groggy disciples, I did not sleep through the time.


Far worse, I was absorbed in all the preparations and demands of the 40 days leading up to this Holy Day.

When I did sit down to rest, my mind wandered to inane amusements that were far removed from the impending events of Holy Week.

At the time when I should have been most diligent about cleaving closer, I allowed myself to drift even further away. Instead of digging deeper into the rich, life-nourishing Word, I gorged on empty calories of temporal preoccupations.

And now it's all over. I was so wrapped up in the tailgating party that was going on in the parking lot, I missed the entire Super Bowl...or that's how I feel, at any rate. How is it possible that all the peripherals took center stage and the Center got shunted to the sidelines? How is it possible that enormous alarm bells didn't go off in my head while the whole thing was going sideways?

My mind cannot even wrap itself around the absurdity of the situation.

Easter came and went, much like so many other Easters and Christmases where I parrot the phrases of "He is Risen indeed, Hallelujah!" and "Merry Christmas" without ever finding the time and space to stop and contemplate the profundity of it all. The meal was spectacular, the Easter baskets abundant and joyously received, the family time was festive and fun, but nowhere in all that celebration was there a moment of silent awareness and acknowledgement of the 'reason for the season'. Church was dutifully and cheerfully enough attended, hymns sung, and heads bowed but somehow it left me all empty. I missed the main event. Worse, it feels like the guest of honor never arrived, or even worse, like He did arrive but I never stopped to greet Him nor engaged in any conversation with Him.

I am left bereft of the Easter Joy. The transformation & healing that I had so desired on Ash Wednesday didn't happen. I am left with the same diseased lumps and bumps of sin I had before. He walked right past me but I never stretched out my hand to touch his robe. The streets are empty now with just the scattered debris of what transpired and though I was in the massive crowd, I missed it.

And yet, the eternity transforming event happened. The veil was torn apart and Heaven came crashing into earth. Whether we were paying attention or not, a significant transaction took place and all of humanity was ransomed for a heavy price. In the resurrection, the gates were flung open and He walked through, inviting us to follow Him. 

All that ails this world, that plagues and torments humanity was settled on the Cross. Everything we are experiencing and witnessing now is the vicious parting tirade of a sore loser. The battle has already been won. The uncontested Champion has been declared, despite the loser's protestations and dirt kicking. The celestial celebration has begun and will never end. I didn't miss it after all! And neither did You! We can still run through the gates and join in the Joy!

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—
    salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
    has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
    before our God day and night.
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
    and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
    that they were afraid to die.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
    And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
    for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
    knowing that he has little time.”

Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)