Here's this week's video chapel message, with transcript below for those of you without speakers on your computer.
Today I am going to start our service by sharing with you something I find highly relatable. I have a friend who shared this social media account with me called, “Live from Snack Time” when I was feeling kind of blue. I am so glad that she did! These are quotes from kids that are young. There is an account on Facebook and on Instagram. I find what the children have to say highly relatable.
From Henry, that is 2 years old, “Don’t wipe my tears away, I want to feel them on my face!” From Gideon who is 7 years old, “Sometimes, my feelings are so big, I like to sing them.” From Kira, also 7 years old, “Well, I’ll just take a nap, that how you solve that!”
And from Jameson, who is 2 years old with the most relatable statement of them all: “I’m just too sad for pants.”
From a 6-year-old, “Sometimes I fall down on purpose, so that I can take a break.” From an anonymous 4 your old, “This is an F word day!” Another pearl from anonymous, this time 8 years old, “I’m hugging you with my mind.” Another 6-year-old, “I made a card for myself, because I’m the best!” The last one from another 6-year-old, “I have a lot to say, so maybe you should get some popcorn.”
You might say, “Why are you reading this during Holy Week?” Well, it has been a rough year. I do not know about you, but I have had plenty of times when I was so sad this past year, I did to not want to put on my pants, either.
I share this with you exactly because it is Holy Week. I know that everywhere there are many rituals, readings, and traditions associated with Easter that you may be observing. So, I wanted to talk about the story of Holy Week though a different lens other than what you may be used to, so I am not repeating something you will experience in church this week.
You might think that there is possible no way there is anything in this ancient and sacred story that could possibly be relatable. This is the most holy story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How could one possibly relate to that? Impossible!
Bear with me. I am not trying to change the way you understand the Bible. Perhaps we could just add a little extra take to the story that might help cultivate a sense of self-awareness.
Let’s look at Judas. I do not know about you, but if I am really honest with myself, I can certainly look back in my life and know there have been times when I’ve betrayed someone. It is always good to look at our shadow side so we can improve our character.
I also think there are aspects of Jesus that are relatable to us. You might think “Birdie, I can’t believe you just said that! That is sacrilege!” I am not saying we run around as the Master Teacher of all time, touching people, healing them, and speaking in parables.
But think about what Jesus did with the disciples at the last supper. He washed all their feet. This was a common gesture of hospitality of their time. The modern-day equivalent is offering someone a cup of coffee when they visit your home. The most common mode of transportation in those days was by foot, and feet got very dirty! It was a luxury to have nice clean feet. It was a warm gesture of welcoming to wash your guest’s feet.
The thing is….Jesus washed Judas’ feet. He did so, knowing Judas would betray him. You might say, “Well, Birdie, I could not do that. I cannot relate to that. I’d never wash the feet of someone I know was going to betray me!”
But my friends, as health care providers, we do this all the time, and especially so this past year. Think about it. I have heard it over and over. The sense of betrayal many have felt when people minimize the disease that has profoundly impacted our work and even our personal lives. When someone comes to the hospital that may have minimized that situation, yet we treat them with the same care and concern as we would any other patient.
I would propose we have even more in common with the story ….above and beyond rising above a sense of betrayal to do the right thing.
The nature of COVID 19 changing. We do not really know how, but we see less of it. But what happens next depends greatly on people’s behavior. In this time, I think many of us are having a resurrection experience whether or not we know it.
Some of us, even though we are tired, and it has been a long year, are staying right where we are. Even though the pace has not let up, because people have not gone to the doctor and they are sicker than ever when we see them, and there are so many of them! We help them and give the same excellent care we have given all along. Some of us have chosen to work in another aspect of healthcare. Some of us have left altogether and have chosen a new life. If all of those are not examples of a resurrection experience, I do not know what is.
I invite you to look at the Bible, or any good story for that matter, as something that might be relatable. Even if you do explore that concept and decide it is not for you, that is excellent, too. Because you will have learned something about yourself in that case.
To be self-aware is a wonderful thing!
Happy Easter to you, my friends. I thank you for listening. May the God of your understanding bless you today and always.
Just because we are not meeting in person does not mean we cannot make prayer requests. You can do so in the chapel on the first floor of the hospital, or by email to jshawker@connallymmc.org Your requests are kept confidential and prayed over for a total of sixty days.
The Prayer for Protection (Rev. James Dillet Freemen)
The light of God surrounds us.
The love of God enfolds us.
The power of God protects us.
The presence of God watches over us.
Wherever we are, God is. Amen.
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