How Far is the East from the West?

After an 11 hour flight to Moscow and an additional 5 1/2 hour flight to Krasnoyarsk (located just north of Mongolia), I like to think I know about how far it is from the East to the West. . .but that sounds presumptuous when put in context with the following:

Today is Good Friday. I had planned for the past year to attend the 3 Holy Hours at our church (the one we don't technically go to, but still technically belong to) with my very good friend who is suffering from Cancer. . .she is home now and resting but unable to attend. So, I went alone. . .they do this service exceptionally well.

The service is set up with a reading of the Passion (this year from the Gospel of John--my favorite) and then three meditations (one from each of the priests) and then a Veneration of the Cross and finally the Stations of the Cross. It is all interspersed with beautiful music-"Calvary", "Ah, Holy Jesus", etc.

The Passion always leaves me feeling desolate, especially because, near the end, we all say "Crucify him, Crucify him!" And then we do. . .sigh. . .

The First Meditation, the main point was, Crowds lie. . .The more people there are, the less truth. Hmmmm. . . .I think I've experienced that.

The Second Meditation, the main point was who is the eternal water of giving life? The priest quoted from C. S. Lewis (one of my favorite authors) "It is a divine priviledge to be less the loved than the lover." Hmmmm. . .I like that. . .a priviledge to be less the loved than the lover. . .

There were three main points to the Third Meditation: first, Repent--Turn around! Change your mind! We used to have a saying in our EFM group: YOU"RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! DISNEYLAND IS THE OTHER DIRECTION!" : ) second, Our sins are as far away from God as the East is from the West. So, how far exactly IS the East from the West? This would seem important since the Son comes from the East. . .and finally, the last point was that only a monster doesn't forgive. . .Lord, Let me NOT BE A MONSTER!

And, so, another Holy Week is concluding. Holy Saturday will be quiet and we'll attend services on Sunday. I feel uninvolved, but blessed and loved. This is a special time for us and a very special weekend: Sunday is our Two Year Anniversary of being a Forever Family. God is Good.