Spring Day 21: Easter

Today was pretty great. Got up at 7 to start cooking and actually made it downstairs by like 7:10. Fried my eggs, prepared the balado (which was too dark and not spicy enough but delicious, it reminds me of the sambal that's been haunting me for years) and had all the telur balado ready by like a little after 9. Showered and remembered that soap isn't enough to remove chili oil (ouch), put on street clothes packed up and was out the door by like 10:10. Weather was absolutely gorgeous. Got to church, put my food in the kitchen, got dressed and waited around for choir practice. Did that, prepared the sacrament and taught one of our knew members how to bless it (he did great). Easter program was very good, if a bit long. Rushed out to start reheating my food for the potluck.

The microwave was sufficient and I plated my rendang and telur balado in bowls I found in the kitchen. They were hits of course. The other food was good too. Table conversation went well. Was dynamic and fun. I was maybe a bit too controlling of it but whatever. At least I was participating and was happy. 

Helped clean up (there was a lot of clean up to do). Went over to play with a cat while its owner was out of town. Talked to the cat for a while about my problems, which was nice. Cat was very affectionate. Got home and lay down for a while (didn't sleep though). Cleaned the kitchen. Sat and talked for a bit. And read stuff? I'm not sure. Prepared my presentation for tomorrow (really bad but hey, I probably won't be selected). Wrote some stuff.

Oh and I got a random text this morning that might be a lead into a network of Indonesian high school principals which I can leverage into my research maybe? Best lead I've got in a while, at least. And yet, still not the best thing to happen today.

Like I said, I felt great today. But not anxious, not feeling pressed. More natural. Not so agitated, I mostly just powered through that presentation instead of getting up to pace every five minutes. Still no idea if my thoughts are different than last time. Or my speech for that matter. I actually made a bit of progress on the question, in a three steps forward one step back sort of way I hope. No answer in sight (that takes a lot) but planted seeds for how to work on it in the future, maybe.  

On Resurrection

We talk about the atonement a lot and how to overcome spiritual death. Which makes sense, seeing as that sickness unto death is something that affects us now, so wanting to know how to push it aside is important in the present. The resurrection, on the other hand doesn't affect us till we're long dead. It's far in the future and very distant to daily lives. There's an interesting duality here. The spiritual side of things is tangible, the physical is intangible. Not how you'd expect it to be, but such is life.

The resurrection is awesome though. Not just the not being dead part. I mean that's great but our intelligences have existed since time immemorial and will always exist afterwards. Death is only something to be feared in the moment, but not from an eternal perspective. No, the resurrection is awesome because bodies are awesome. That's the point of life, merging the spirit with a body. So that's why even spirits should be anticipating resurrection.

The problem with bodies though is that they are created and exist in a fallen world. So they're subject to fallen world things. Sickness and pain, physical and mental. Aging. Hunger. Not being able to do everything we want. So on and so forth. But the resurrection isn't just a return of the spirit to the body. Lazarus wasn't resurrected. Resurrection is the restoration of the body to its divine potential; its pre-fallen state. The bodies we wanted in the premortal life (to an extent I guess. I don't actually know what went on then. Wish I knew but that gets back to that existential question). That's the real power of physical death that defines resurrection. 

It's not that I don't (mostly) like my body but man is that something to look forward to. My brain with chemicals in balance. Not being tired all the time. Not all the other aches and pains of mortal existence, and yet still having it? What a gift and a gift that everyone gets. That's what makes the resurrection special.

 Anyway, just something I've been thinking a lot about this lentan season. 

Sayings on the Cross: Reunion

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” And having said thus, He gave up the ghost. -Luke 23:36. KJ21

Sayings on the Cross: Triumph

Therefore when Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, It is ended. And when his head was bowed down, he gave up the ghost. -John 19:30, Wycliffe Bible

Sayings on the Cross: Distress

 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” - John 19:28, NIV

Sayings on the Cross: Abandonment

 wbatša‘ šā‘yin: q‘ā’ yešua‘ bqālā’ rāmā’ we’mar, ’ēl ’ēl lmānā’ šbaqtāni di’aiteyh ’elāhi ’elāhi lmānā’ šbaqtāni - Mark 15:34, Peshitta 

Sayings on the Cross: Relationships

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. -John 19:26-27, ESV

Sayings on the Cross: Salvation

And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”- Luke 23:43, NWT

Sayings on the Cross: Forgiveness

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  -Luke 23:34, KJV

Sayings on the Cross: Intro

As regular readers of this blog are aware (I always get a kick out of saying that), mid to late February was a rough time for me. That of course coincided with the start of Lent. One of the reasons I revived this blog (and let it thrive) was because near the beginning of Lent I started reading up on the sayings of Jesus on the Cross and decided that I really wanted to do a series on them. While initially wanting to get all my thoughts out at once, I decided that doing them one day at a time, with seven landing on Good Friday would probably be the best way to do them. 

I'm not interested in the theological implications of these verses. I don't care what "paradise" means or what prophecies were fulfilled. As I've mentioned before, I find the Bible a poor source for theology given that I have access to modern revelations. There's no need to pan for meaning when the river lies next to a gold mine. No, what I'm interested in is my relationship with the words and their themes. So in a way you could say that this are more "On X" posts. "On Forgiveness", "On Salvation" and so on. Named differently though; this is a formal series. 

So look forward to that, hopefully it turns out at least a seventh as well as it is in my head.