March 31, 2007
Sanctuary’s plant life is hurtling onward into spring led onward by the greening of the willows and the budding wild plums. We have had slow rains and warm temperatures to encourage this early start – and since we do stop a step or two short of perfection, the season’s first tick arrived on Alphie’s coat yesterday afternoon as well.
This eleventh course of Chemotherapy has returned me to the contemplation of ultimate verities. Holy Week brings one to that review anyway, and my mind has been invoking images of a warm day with many palms and people gathering and shouting their approval at the sight of Jesus of Nazareth riding past. At the same moment in history the leaders of the time were meeting and planning and plotting; likely well aware of the weakness of Judas and determining how to use it to their purposes.
What a strange and portentous gathering of events – even after years of consideration, its manifestation of deity/flesh, death/life, wages of sin/payment achieved and life extended into eternity remains a mystery that can only be addressed by simple faith. Today, the boxes of palm fronds shipped up from warmer climes are standing in coolers awaiting the transport of children’s hands at tomorrow morning’s processions to the sounds of “All Glory, Laud and Honor” played in various degrees of grandness by musicians everywhere. Thus Holy Week begins to take us through the dark and solemn days of remembering pain and death and sacrifice to conclude with the grandeur of Easter Sunday’s joy and delight.
Next Tuesday morning we approach the Medical Center in Omaha with many questions in hand concerning the Vidaza, the course of the disease, and the possible options available to us. We are ever optimistic – this season of new life everywhere, bearing fresh and new color and energy after a winter’s time of darkness and rest cannot help but beckon us onward into good days ahead.
(Next entry: April 4)