The Good Lion

Yesterday was our day of prayer at the office and we had a neat experience for the first part of the day. Everyone who participated had the opportunity to walk through a labyrinth. The labyrinth is an ancient prayer form. It is a form of going on a pilgrimage - walking to a holy place to experience God and physical or spiritual healing. When it became dangerous to travel to the Holy Land during the Crusades people began walking in labyrinths, a stationary form of pilgrimage. They were engraved in the floors of cathedrals. It is a path that twists and turns until you reach the center where you can reflect and listen to God. The labyrinth we walked was in the Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland.

As I was walking through the labyrinth I was praying about some things I need to let go of and let God control in my life. There were some specific areas that I needed to surrender to him. I was reminded of the vision of God as a lion, much like Aslan the lion in The Chronicles of Narnia. As i was walking around the cross, it seemed to be that the lion was roaring, protective, and fierce. But I still wanted to get closer.

Finally, I reached the center and was praying before the cross, symbolically surrendering those areas in my life by laying down a stone at the foot of the cross. I had the feeling that the lion was sitting next to me, ready to walk with me as I walked back out through the path of the labyrinth. It was as if Jesus was showing me, in a real way, the way he walks beside us each and every day and will take our burdens on his back if we ask him to and trust that he will take care of them.

So often, we come to a moment where we surrender these burdens and we feel lighter for a time, but as soon as we feel better, our tendency is to say, "Look what I did, I solved the problem, I took care of it." By doing this, we immediately take that burden back from Jesus' shoulders. We almost become greedy with it because we want to take the credit for 'solving' it. This is just one of the many conundrums of our Christian walk.

Why do we not just give it over to Jesus and let him take care of it. How much easier that would be, instead of playing a game of tug-of-war with him (which he lets us inevitably win until we learn what we are doing) to simply say, Thank you Lord for carrying these burdens for me and for giving me your yoke which is light?

We must remember to constantly come to the Lion, who while fierce and protective, is also gentle, kind, and wants to be our companion and carry our burdens - much like the lion Aslan being willing to sacrifice himself in the place of Edmund in the story of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Blessings

This weekend was full of blessings in my life. I was at my first bridal shower thrown by my dear friend and bridesmaid, Malisa. She is such a good hostess and we had an amazing brunch put on for us. It was so special to have my mom, Chris' mom, my grandma as well as my aunt and cousin there. There were also a few friends from Pullman - less came then I expected but it was Easter weekend and people were home with their families which is great!

It was so much fun to have this group of women bless me and shower me with love and gifts. I felt so special and undeserving of it all! My favorite part was when Malisa read Proverbs 31 and the women wrote down characteristics of that chapter they could see in me. You always look for the bad in yourself and so it was a blessing to have these women point out the good they see in me. God has truly blessed me with these wonderful and amazing friends. I only hope that in my marriage I can live up to what they see in me:

Proverbs 31:10-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.