She is not as old as the
calendar says she is. Her quick wit and
infectious smile belie her nearing the century mark (she is ‘really close’, but
I am sworn to secrecy on how close!)
I had the opportunity to
visit my dear old friend (meaning ‘long-time friend’) on her birthday, May 10,
2018. I mention the date and year
because this date is Ascension Day, the day the Church celebrates the return of
Jesus in bodily form to the right hand of the Father, making way for the
Spirit’s Pentecost arrival. I shared the text for Sunday’s sermon, where Jesus
prays near the end of his earthly journey:
“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world,
and I am coming to you.” (John 17:11 NIV)
We smiled at our good fortune
in having Pastor Donna’s upside down cake to share for this double celebration.
And we talked about how fitting it was that, on this her “___th” birthday, she
could have her mind directed to the joy which comes from knowing Jesus ascended
from earth to heaven. And why, we discussed, could the departure of someone so
loved be a source of joy to his friends? Well, why did Jesus ascend? To go to
prepare a place for you, my friend! If it were not so, he wouldn’t have told us,
Jesus says.
“Is my birthday always on
Ascension Day?”, she wondered. I explained that, no, it was not. In fact, it is
pretty rare for May 10 to be the Thursday which is the 40th day of
Easter and 10 days before Pentecost. “Well,”
she said, “ it won’t happen again in my life time.” (pause…smile) “At least it
better not!” (I told you she had a quick wit.)
“…I say these things…so that
they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (v. 13)
And on this day on which we
celebrate my friend’s first birth, and anticipate her second birth, we saw in
each other’s eyes joy.
O happy day.
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