Still He Walked

Morgan and I spent much of the day cleaning our backyard for the party tomorrow. Since we get so much dust out here in the desert, everything had to be washed off, including all our decks and patio furniture. We've been so busy the last few months that we haven't had a chance to tend to our backyard or even enjoy it, since Christmas. We also had to wait until today since Morgan was out of town on business during the week. Because of this and some other last minute party details, I felt as though I didn't spend the quiet time in reflection with the Lord that I would have liked to on this Good Friday. I found myself trying to steal brief moments of remembrance, solemness and gratitude throughout the day. In all the hoopla of the girls' birthday party, family and friends coming into town, and Easter Sunday, I don't want to lose focus of the One who suffered, died, and rose again... all because of his great love for us. I saw this on another blog and thought if was a beautiful description of what today was all about.

Still He Walked

He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...

He could hear the hatred in their voices,

These were his chosen people.

He loved them,

And they were going to crucify him.

He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... his heart was broken,

But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.

He knew each of the faces so well.

He had created them.

He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,

But now they were contorted with rage and anger...his heart broke,

But still He walked.

Was he scared?

You and I would have been.

So his humanness would have mandated that he was.

He felt alone.

His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.

He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.

Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered,

And he knew that he would never be alone.

He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting

At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew

That because of him, they would never be alone.

So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.

The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,

the cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet

Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.

Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his

Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",

And God's heart broke.

He had let his son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,

But instead he asked God to forgive.

Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.

As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,

He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,

But also, the face of every person yet to be,

And his heart filled with love.

As his body was dying, his heart was alive.

Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.

That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,

I remember his walk.

When I wonder if I can be forgiven,

I remember his walk.

When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,

I think of his walk.

And to show him how much I love him,

I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,

And I walk.

-Author Unknown