Ok, I'll admit, I was tempted.
Ray Lamb had a major influence on my life. Ray was the pastor in Lapeer when he told Judy Stone she needed to go to Asbury College and marry a minister. She did and I will be forever grateful. He was the district superintendent in Marquette when we were debating whether to come to Michigan. We did and I will be forever grateful. Ray also had a wonderful wit and sense of humor. One year while he was the pastor at Royal Oak April Fools Day landed on a Sunday, so he called his associate pastor Steve Buck at 5:30am and with a raspy, horse voice said, "Steve. I've lost my voice. You are going to have to preach today." Steve jumped out of bed, scrambled to get to his office to try to pull something together. When Ray showed up about 8:00am for the first service, he stuck his head in Steve's office and bellowed in a clear, crisp voice "April Fools!!!" I admit, yesterday I was tempted to call Rod or Chad or Monica or Brian and try the same thing, but my better spirits prevailed and I let them sleep in peace.
We've heard the story of Christ's passion so often, I wonder if it holds any surprise for us anymore. Is there any way we could possibly make our way through this week as if we didn't know where it was going to come out, how it was all going to end? How would it feel? And would we be ready for the best surprise of all? When the women came on that first Easter morning, of course, the disciples didn't know it was Easter. They didn't anticipate the word the women brought and simply because they were women, the disciples couldn't or wouldn't believe it. They were sure it was nothing more than a foolish tale told by foolish women. They thought they knew better...April Fool! They were in for a big surprise.
I know we can't forget what we already know. I know we will come on Sunday ready to celebrate the great good news of resurrection. But if we could, could we try to walk through this week from the Palms of yesterday to the Upper Room and the Garden as if we didn't know? Any chance we can once again be surprised with the word "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!"
I love this week. I look forward to it all year. And I look forward to meeting you on the way of the cross until we meet at the empty tomb.
No fooling!
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