In the small Methodist church where I grew up, we made much of Good Friday and Easter, with a somber, reflective service on Friday night—one year’s structured by the many verses of “Were You There”—and a sunrise service and community breakfast on Sunday, complete with all of the egg casserole and cinnamon rolls my heart (and stomach) could desire. But what of the Saturday in between, when we seemed to return to our regular activities with little acknowledgement of the cosmic importance of the surrounding days? I left home to attend a large state university and found myself in a…

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."—Luke 19:10 I've heard this verse many (many) times, but for some reason, it really jumped out in Rob's sermon this morning. I've been turning it over in my head this afternoon trying to figure out why. Writing often helps me to understand things that I initially cannot, so I'm going to give that a try, beginning at the end. The lost: I think I often feel a bit lost, out of my depth, but more than that, I'm grieving for the people in my life who've lost their…

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”—2 Cor. 12:9I've been sick this week. Just a cold, nothing major, but it's the week before the semester starts, so not great timing. We're talking just sick enough to feel slightly miserable and to carry a vague sense of guilt into interactions with other people, but not sick enough to feel justified in not going to work or canceling plans. I definitely can't say it's been the most productive week.I'm trying to be gentle with myself—taking naps and sleeping late and shortening my to-do list—but the…