64) Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday

‘Palm Mirage’

Palm Sunday...

2020.

A day of hope.

A day surrounded in happiness.

A day to rejoice.

A day full of celebration.

‘St. Madeline making palm frond crosses on Palm Sunday 2020.’

And…

A day of sacrifice.

A day of sorrow.

A day clouded in sadness...

While the palm is representative of royalty and welcoming and celebratory achievements and victories…

At the same time of all the rejoicing…

Jesus already knew what was coming for Him.

He foresaw it all.

On Palm Sunday.

He rode into the Holy City, victorious, but entirely in peace.

And this act was paralleled by His own somber thoughts at the very same time.

Jesus knew the events taking place on Palm Sunday would ultimately lead to His upcoming death. His Crucifixion.

He knew His arrest was imminent. He foresaw it all.

He knew He would die. He foresaw it all.

But…

He got on the donkey, and He rode into Jerusalem anyway.

‘Minty Fresh Palm Frond’

The courage.

The confidence.

The sacrifice. And knowing that sacrifice was for all of us. Even though we did not know it.

The fiercely strong and bold and thick palm leaves all touching the donkey’s paws on the walk throughout town.

People waving the branches toward Him. And He - feeling the winds of the palms.

All while knowing.

Of the upcoming sacrifice.

Palm Sunday is definitively representative of this Palm Sunday 2020, in many, many ways.

And Holy Week itself.

We have been told these weeks may be some of the toughest of our lives. We have been told of uncertainty. We have been told there will be death. We have been told to hang in there. And maybe most importantly… we have been told to put our foot on the gas pedal during the hardest time...

And to Keep Going.

Jesus sacrificed for us. For the people at the time, yes. But for all of us. And for an infinite number of people - still - into the unknown future.

When people wonder…

Where is God today?

Amidst all the death and destruction?

He lives among us. All of us.

As we all sacrifice something, in some way - today.

Work, finance, careers, family, friends, hobbies, school, health - Life as we know it, itself.

We are all sacrificing today to help rid the world of an invisible evil.

All, in our own ways.

But - All - doing our part.

We don’t know what the future holds - as Jesus did. So we have to have faith. And keep going.

Because Jesus did know what was coming for Him - and He still kept going.

Because we don’t know what is coming for us - but we need to keep going.

Because the more we keep going - the stronger we become.

Because as Jesus knew what was coming forward into the future for Him - He still moved forward.

And just because of that, and in spite of not knowing what lies ahead, we must also live, and move forward, all while UN-knowing what is to come for us in the future.

So let’s all keep going.

Keep celebrating.

And - Keep living.

Surrounded by fear. Surrounded by mystery. Surrounded by death. Surrounded by questions and zero answers. Surrounded by unknowing. We have to keep living.

It will only make us all stronger.

So when you question WHY?

Why did this happen? Why did it happen to us? What is going to happen? What will become of us?

The non-answer is the answer.

No one knows.

But we just keep going.

And in turn, fear goes away. Even if you try to guess what your future holds. You will not be afraid. You will go forward. You will continue in celebration.

And you will then celebrate today.

And you will continue to rejoice today.

And you will be surrounded in happiness.

And you will have hope. And you will have faith.

This Sunday… This Stay-At-Home Sunday. Holy Week.

2020. ~

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Author:

Christine Pieper is an Artist and Lifestyle Blogger, living, writing, and painting in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with her hubby and eight year old puppy. She made a major life change in 2017 by uprooting and moving from Illinois to the Sunshine State, and has been living her best life in Florida since - detailing all her many and varied adventures living and traveling the Deep South to share with you. Her mission is to help you live YOUR best life - by getting out there, going for it, and making that big change you always dreamed of. Christine will inspire you to get over yourself, show up for yourself, and get out of your own way. The only one stopping you - is YOU.

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For more stories, thoughts, poetry, and then some, check out these other entries, right here:
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62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park
59] REACTION ~ To World War 19
55] The Shamrock
51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe
49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World
48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia
42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road?
41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish
39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020
38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe
36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You
34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~
28] The Scent Of Christmas in the Air
27] Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First
26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD
24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House
23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair
21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts
18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand
6] Nine Eleven: Before & After
2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens

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