Gideon get's courage - Judges 6 & 7

I had the opportunity to visit Los Vegas a few years ago and I took this picture. It seems strangely appropriate for my thoughts today, idols and Asherah poles.
I am reading in Judges; Gideon intrigues me. His lack of courage surprised me. I know about his fleeces, but somehow they never struck me as motivated by fear. I thought he wanted to be absolutely sure he was obeying God. Reading about him this week, I think he was scared out of his mind. The wonder is that God didn't give up on him, or mock him, or even yell. In Judges 6:17 & 18, Gideon asks the Lord to stay put, if it really is Him, until he brings back an offering. He couldn't just run down to grab a Big Mac. He had to prepare and cook it from scratch. Then, when it is the Lord, and Gideon agrees to obey, what God asks of him is really scary, so "he did it by night." (vs. 27)
He tried to do the Lord's work in secret. It didn't work; he was exposed pretty quickly, but still no rebuke from the Lord. I find comfort in that. God knows my weakness and loves me still. I have to think that by the time Gideon's troops were winnowed down to 300 and God gave him the victory, Gideon had more courage than when God asked him to tear down the idols and Asherah pole.
It's all about progression, forward motion. We put one foot in front of the other, even if we are shaking, and we see God. Then we put the next foot in front of the first, and again we see God. One of these days I want to run, flat out, no fear, no shaking in my boots, no more baby steps. A full on run, complete with leaping and whooping. I wonder if God plays tag.

Life, death and life again.

This picture was taken in 1984, of a precious friend we haven't seen for many years. When I see this now I think of C.S. Lewis's book, The Last Battle. The last chapter is the most beautiful description of what it might be like when we pass from life to death to real life. The characters are stuck in a stinking shed, where they think life is as real as it gets, some of the characters have the courage to leave the shed for the unknown. Each step away from the shed takes them higher up and further in on a new adventure, where the colors are brighter, the air is fresher, the water sweeter and life more vibrant. Rob and his two sons were killed in a car crash just before Easter, leaving behind his precious wife. I cannot imagine Dusty's agony. My brain cannot grasp being a childless mother and I grieve for her and all she has lost. But as I think of Rob today, I have to smile. He's going higher up and further in with Byron and Gabriel. I can see the teasing twinkle in Rob's eyes, and some how, I am sure there is a football arching it's way through the air. There is wrestling in the grass, and squeals of delight and laughter without the bellyache. Someday we will be there too, in the best yard of all, in our Father's house, where there is no more sorrow only joy unimaginable. See ya' Rob. Dusty, you are in my heart and prayers daily.

Happy Easter. I have neglected blogs of all sorts so I spent a relaxing Easter morning preparing the leg of lamb and catching up. I laughed out loud at my favorite blog, ourliteraryjoys.blogspot.com. Family memories can be so healing and I love that they are recorded. Too many of mine are not on the page yet.
We spent the past four days, 12+ hours a day painting the basement and getting ready to become the Walton's. Grandma and Grandpa are walking kinda funny today. I really did take this picture this morning. I think we have a white Easter more often than a white Christmas, but I love a white Easter. It just seems right to see the bright, white, clean world when we wake to celebrate that Jesus made us white as the new fallen snow.
He is risen!