SPOILER ALERT: You may not like what I’m getting ready to say because it’s not the typical Easter flowery.
In all honesty, I would have rather spent the entire day lying in the hammock by the water’s edge, listening to the children play and the adult chatter.
My morning included: my husband getting up early to head to church for the first service. Then I got up and tried to wrangle the kids- even though the showers were taken the night before, the clothes ironed and ready to put on, it was still rather like organizing a small event. So how do I look my “Easter” best, have all my children looking their “Easter” best and get to church on time to take care of all the things that I am responsible for? My family couldn’t go to church together… between our work responsibilities and the kids and the hoopla… UGH! It was a chaotic and busy morning.
I was overcome with the feeling that Jesus was beckoning me to come outside. I really felt as if I was staying too long in the tomb. Does that make sense? Yet Jesus stood outside his tomb, calling me to come out and live a little! He wanted me to feel the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, the refreshing cool water on my feet… he wanted to sit with me. He wanted to talk, but I was too busy. He wanted to be with me. Crazy, huh?
It’s so odd, but I really think I’m going through a “crisis” of sorts. I don’t want to buy a sports car or a motorcycle (well, kinda, but not really.) You know what I want more than anything? I want Jesus. I want to learn more and more and more about his love and his life. I want to be more like him. I want to show his kind of love to the world. Where does this burning desire come from? It comes from a deep disappointment in something I used to trust.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings comes to mind. Ever read it? Oh, please do…
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
~Maya Angelou
With clipped wings and tied feet, we can be trapped by legalism, condemnation and censure. We can be held captive by the archaic and antiquated. We can quickly forget the message of freedom for the lost, the hurting, and the dying. There are those who only know loss, pain, and death and there is no Good Samaritan to be found. The robotic are full of pharisaical proclamations and man-made law.
(When I say “Pharisee”, I mean a person who is consumed with the law and ritual. I feel as though they knew the law, but they didn’t understand what life was all about.)
I’m tired. Tired of a broken system, tired of the lack of love, the lack of respect and acceptance, and I’m tired of the condemnation.
Jesus loves me. Yes, even me. Should you decide on the path of a pharisaical hypocrite, you will lose your ability to love me. But what about Jesus? He not only knows the “law”, but he teaches practical life application. Face it, he IS the law. What I am most drawn to is that he does not condemn me; he has forgiven me and loves me. He asks that I follow him and love God first. He also requires me to love others. Period. It is a message of true, pure, unconditional love and it is for all people. Pretty clear message.
He is hope, he is restoration, and he is life. Jesus IS the definition of love.
I have to re-learn and re-focus. There are those who listen and watch me. What am I teaching them? Am I leading them right back into captivity or am I pointing them to freedom?
So even if I find myself to be a caged bird with clipped wings and tied feet, I can sing of freedom and pray that the melody will carry the message of freedom to all who stand on the distant hill.
What song will you sing?
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