Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 2011
Some stories only make sense when you know the ending. Beforehand the plot seems to have a life of its own with characters appearing and disappearing, scenery changing, time jumping and random strangers cropping up and saying things for no apparent reason. But then, when the final chapter kicks in, suddenly things start falling into place. A mystery is solved, then another and another until eventually all the threads weave together and you can see the whole picture.
I guess, if by some miracle, you were watching the Creation, it could well have been similar. Day one, light and dark. Day two, earth and sky. Day three, land, sea, plants and trees. All that green, all that mud, all that water. Why? What’s the point? But if you hung around, waited, watched the transforming of the land, the appearance of creatures and finally, of man and his mate, you’d understand. It was for him, for them, the apple of his eye.
Jesus lived his life in the shadow of the cross. He knew what was coming. God and him had been planning it from the beginning. Abba and the Word. So when he came here, he knew why. And everyday he handed his will over to the Father. Not a victim but a willing volunteer, free to take up his life and lay it down at his bidding.
When he read out his mission in his home town, his community were not impressed. What’s he doing? Who does he think he is? Doesn’t he know the rules? And instead of rejoicing with him, they hurled a hurricane of ridicule and tried to push him off a cliff. But Jesus was no fool. He saw beyond their words and disapproval and just walked straight through them and went on his way.
We may find ourselves among those who don’t understand us. We may feel tempted to argue with our critics, to justify ourselves and edge nearer to a cliff. Or we could just keep walking. Keep going. Keep creating. Keep doing what we’re doing. And respond instead to what we know to be true.
But then, day four, the sun and moon giving a pattern to the day. And day five, birds and fish. Living things to fill the skies and seas. Day six, animals and people.