Hi everyone,

Yesterday our daughter had a performance/recital/presentation (not sure what they call it). I like going to these things because it’s fun to see her in a different environment, doing something that we don’t normally see her do. But I had to feel bad for some people in the audience because somewhere up near the back, a baby was crying for what felt like 90% of the show.

As a parent now for a couple weeks shy of 17 years (whoa), one thing I learned is that a lot of people out there are not comfortable with crying. Often when someone sees one of our kids crying, they would jump up and try to “fix” the situation, like maybe offer candy, try to get them to laugh, or my personal favourite, offer me advice on how to get them to cry less.

The thing is, to cry is part of being human. It is a natural reaction to some of the most visceral emotions. It isn’t something we turn on (and if you try for dramatic effect, most people can tell and you’re not fooling anyone), so it isn’t easily just turned off. So when we are crying, we don’t need someone to just tell us to “stop”, but rather we need someone to sit with us, and show us that there is hope.

Hope… even in death.

Here are the readings for next week:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
And a video of them being read:

Some of you know this, but John 11:35 has always been one of my favourite verses, for many reasons, but originally because in certain translations it is the shortest verse in the bible. Specifically, many translations of this verse have only 2 words: “Jesus” and “wept” (in that order).

Jesus wept.

I wonder if that made the already uncomfortable and awkward situation even more uncomfortable and awkward. I wonder if Jesus’ weeping (probably better translated as “ugly cry”) had the people giving him tissues in hopes that he’d stop. I wonder if those who witnessed it really understood what was happening.

Jesus loved Lazarus, yes. But very deeply. So deep that the death of his friend caused him sorrow, anguish, and enough pain to weep, to break down, to be fully human.

This is a God I want on my side. Not one that instills only strength, confidence, and might, but one that sits with me, comforts me, and shows me (and all people) compassion. I am grateful that this is the God that we get.

Thanks be to God! Have a great week!