Friday, April 13, 2012

Reactions

Reactions….
I’ve thought a lot about reactions this week.  It is the week after Easter, a time of profound amazement and thankfulness.  I started this blog at the beginning of Lent, with the intention of it going through Easter and the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection.  Instead, I let it go.  I wrote three blogs and stopped.  I continued to add to myself what I wanted to grow with during Lent, but my writing dwindled.  I felt I really didn’t have much to share and I got lazy.
My reaction to Easter was different this year.  I felt I experienced Lent much more and that I was much more aware of the significance of the story, the sacrifice, and – ultimately – the miracle.  And,  I wanted my reaction to God’s gift to us to be one of amazement and gratitude and thanksgiving.
And to become a child of Easter.

Isaiah 12:2 says: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”  (NIV)
Trust and not be afraid.  I can do that.  Right?
On Tuesday, Lee and I sat through the longest red light I’ve ever known.  We were driving to a spot near the high school after I received a phone call.  Simply, “Mom, I need you.”  I had tried calling our oldest son back, but didn’t get an answer.  I grabbed Lee out of a meeting and we headed to the place I thought our son said he was waiting.
My reaction…..
Sitting at that red light, I let out a small scream.  Our son was standing on the side of the road, so I knew he was all right.  There was a police car behind him – and an unexpected woman.  My scream was somewhat of relief, but also of shock.  The driver’s door on the car we let him drive was simply gone.  Once that light finally turned and we were able to join our son, we were able to piece together the situation.    The woman was truly an angel – she had been behind our son when he was sideswiped, and pulled off behind him and stayed until we arrived
This was one of those moments that every parent dreads, but it was the reaction that was important.  How we reacted by turning to God.  How we reacted to each other.   And how we reacted to our child.  Our beloved child.   Scared - somewhat cut and bruised - but amazingly OK.  The sideswiping did a number on the car, but that is beyond insignificant.
The next day, a friend posted one of those quote type pictures on Facebook.  It simply read:  “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?”
Reaction.  React to all by turning to God.  Through prayer, through that knowledge that He is always right there with us.  Through the calm and through the storm.