All That Is

It really is not easy to open our arms to all that is.  Not only do we open our arms to the great joys and celebrations, but our open arms also open us to the reality of pain and suffering too.  With arms wide, there is no protection for our vulnerable hearts.  While my Rebecca was opening her arms yesterday in joy of creation, there are also shadows created in the light.  In this Holy Week where today on this Palm Sunday Jesus was celebrated and welcomed with great joy, in just days he will be mocked and scorned and betrayed by the same people.  His arms open today in the celebration of entering Jerusalem, will in a few short days be open on the cross.

Vulnerability in both joy and sorrow.  Jesus has gone before us in the journey, and through His death and resurrection His Spirit now lives within us, giving us strength and complete forgiveness and new beginnings.  In that Spirit I want to continue to increasingly open my arms in vulnerability to all the challenges of both joy and sorrow.  I am thankful for all that is.