Holy Wednesday 2015

The turning point

I often catch myself think “what if” when I reflect on major turning points in my life. What if I had chosen Hiram over Mount Union when I was deciding what college to go to? What if I had stayed home the summer of 2003 instead of working at Camp Cedar?  What if I had gone to United Seminary instead of Lexington? What if…what if…

What if the disciples had gotten it the first time Jesus tried to tell them what was going to happen to him? What if God had decided there was another way when Jesus prayed in the garden?

Perhaps you, like I, spend a good bit of time on the “what ifs” when we really don't need to. When we find ourselves at a turning point and we have weighed all the what if’s and might be’s and make the decision to go left, right, forward, backward, or stand still…that then becomes the known, not the what if. The turning point has past and we are now headed in a new and different direction than before.

For me, Wednesday of Holy Week is that turning point/“what if” moment in Christ’s story.  That turning point when everything could have gone differently. What if Jesus had decided he didn't care about God’s will for him and he ran away? What if the disciples had said let’s stay here, no need to pray in the garden? What if they had fought for him or stood beside him at the trial? That point in the story when we still don't know, without doubt, what the "known" will become.

We can imagine what it might be like but will never know for certain. For instance if I had chosen Hiram over Mount Union, I would not have met some of the best people on the planet, who helped me through some pretty tough times. If I hadn't gone to Camp Cedar I would never had made friendships that have lasted more than 10 years even though we only talk on the same day once a year. If I had gone to United instead of Lexington, I would still be a minister but I wouldn't have the tremendous support system that I do because I don’t know who I would have met there. 

If I had made different decisions at any point in life, I would likely still be doing what I am doing now, maybe in a different congregation, in a different state or a different field of ministry but God has a funny way of getting us where we need to be, whether we miss a turning point or not.

So on the Holy Wednesday when the story is about to take a major turn, sit for a moment with all the “what if’s” you can think of and then when you are ready- read the story(whichever Gospel you prefer) of the Last Supper and prepare yourself for what happens next.