A WING AND A PRAYER "Alternative Universe" & "Practicing Resurrection"

There is so much pain in this world, but what do we crazy Christians see? Promise. Alternative universes. Dreams and possibilities.... Saints are those crazy visionaries who say hello to death, and then greet what lies beyond it. Saints, however, are not so crazy that they fail to mourn the good part of God's creation that is gone in death. They do, and they shed tears abundant, and rail at God for making us mortal, but in the very scream they find God present with us, the God who suffers and dies with us, and points us to the new life that lies beyond. - p. 98

Practice resurrection. Live in open expectation of the new thing God is doing at all times and in all places. It means opening ourselves to that new thing, recognizing that the change it brings will cause some distress. But there is always more abundant life on the other side of the pain and grief that comes with change and growth. - p. 101

What is it about our egos that wants everything to be exactly as it was yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that? If there is are and certainties in this life, it's that each day is going to be different in some way than the day before, and that at, at some point, in spite of all of our efforts and protestations, our time on this sphere must come to an end. Inevitability of change and inevitability of the end of life are both part and parcel with our existence.

Christ shows us both of these in his life and in his teaching. He was constantly confronted with the temporary nature of daily life, with the ever changing circumstances that surrounded his life and ministry, with the vacillating devotion of his disciples and friends. He faced his impending and inevitable death, sometimes with fear and sometimes with force, but always with the recognition that it was inevitable.

If we can see beyond ourselves, and see that while we may not make a mark that will last beyond a generation or two, we are still active in participating in God's creation, helping to promote life and love on this wonderful planet, helping to teach acceptance and appreciation to our children and all others under our charge, helping one another to recognize that life is fragile and that every day brings us closer to that moment when we leave this plane of existence and enter into eternity with our creator.

Neither change nor death should be seen as less than wonderful moments in our existence, and we should embrace both as gifts of the life God gives us. If we did, we'd see each day and each moment as an opportunity to experience God at work in the world and in us.