Hi everyone,
A lot of people tell me that my kids are growing up so fast. Maybe it’s because I’m with them a lot and see them all the time, but to me it seems like it’s taking forever. I feel like I’ve been doing this parenting gig for a while now and my kids are still so little. I’d thought they’d be married and living in another province or at least bringing in some income by now, but I still have to choose their clothes and cut up their food.
But then the other day I was just looking at one of them, and I realised how much they have grown. I mean, this kid was tall, heavy, and able to think and react to situations on their own. I still have to choose their clothes and cut their food, but I guess everyone was right, they are growing (but just not that fast).
Although I noticed this, I wondered what it’d be like when they are older (like when they’re married, living in another province, and making money to send home to their parents), and I couldn’t help but be a little sad. I’m going to miss them being young. I’m going to miss having to take care of them and doing things for them. I’m going to miss intentionally choosing out goofy looking outfits just to keep them humble.
However, that is no reason to stop them from growing up or treating them like kids forever. So as God as my witness they better be able to pick out their own goofy outfits by the time they hit high school.
Here are the readings for next week:
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
The story of the Transfiguration always baffled me a little, as I don’t really know what the purpose of it is. I don’t really get how it happened, of course, but I also don’t really get why. What was the point of Jesus looking different? What was the point of the dazzling white? What was the point of Moses and Elijah being there?
And without diving deep into this story and theological implications, I think “transfiguration” basically means exactly what it sounds like, that Jesus’ figure was transformed (no, not his Transformers figures, which would be just as awesome). But Jesus changed not only in his outward appearance for that brief moment, but also in how he was regarded by Peter and the disciples that were present for the rest of their lives.
Notice how Peter wanted to capture the moment though, how he wanted everything to stay the same as it is right then with Jesus being all shiny and stuff.
But I guess that wasn’t the point. The point wasn’t to have a clean, tidied-up version of Jesus all the time, but it was see that Jesus is glorious even in the dirty and gritty parts of real life.
Because it’s in the dirty and gritty parts of life that we’ll need some Jesus to remind us of that beauty that can be, that peace that isn’t understandable but attainable, and that love that spans over generations and cultures.
So this time around, that is what the Transfiguration means for me. In the moments of life when the rubber hits the road, I can look for Jesus present somewhere, transforming the grit into beauty.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!