Jimbo's Jots

“We tend to stay away from mourning and dancing. Too afraid to cry, too shy to dance … We become narrow-minded complainers, avoiding pain and also true human joy … While we live in a world subject to the evil one, we belong to God. Let us mourn, and let us dance.” – Henri Nouwen, Suffering and Joy

I saw this quote earlier this week. So appropriate since it’s Holy Week that culminates world wide in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

Nouwen perfectly describes the tension we feel when someone close to us transitions from this life to the life eternal – especially when one has lived a life in relationship with God. We talk about what a wonderful God-fearing life he or she lived and we smile talking about it all the while with a tear in our eyes. You remember the story in John 11 of Lazarus’ resurrection. Mary and Martha in mourning talk to Jesus and he reassures them that He is the resurrection and the life. Then, moments later, John records that Jesus cried. For years, you have heard lessons and teachings about why Jesus would cry. I’m not going to go there other than to say, that maybe Jesus understood the tension of these moments. Swept away by the sorrow we feel, yet knowing it is a celebration of God’s power over life.

There is also the tug of war of understanding how this world is working. I love what Nouwen says, “while we live in a world subject to the evil one, we belong to God.” And the pull to one side or the other happens when we begin to ask, “How could God allow …?” Or “Where was God when I prayed …” I get it. I sit with people who ask these very questions.

The resurrection of Jesus, and celebrating it, is a wonderful reminder of this very truth. While the evil one may appear to be in control, God is still God. So, we celebrate and dance in our times of mourning because we know that while the evil one seems to be in control, God still has power over death. And as Paul reminds us (while quoting Hosea),

“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, NIV)

So let us mourn and let us dance because we worship a Risen Savior and God declaring victory over death!