h2odevos encores 022912 Leap of Faith

"The day-to-day procession of human charades

Our chances fade and shine

But somewhere in between the distance and the dance

The water turns to wine

The days are going by us hours too fast

Past you right or wrong

The solitary pleasure of your hand

Makes my heart beat strong

Some will say you're born free others say it can't be

Nothin's  gonna change your mind

First you say you'll leave me then you say you need me

Somewhere in between you're mine"

Somewhere in Between by Roger Guth and Peter Mayer

I have always appreciated those signs or displays which show an arrow marking a particular spot, accompanied by the words, "You are here."  They give one an opportunity to get oriented, to discover where one has been and perhaps where one is going.

Peter's song "Somewhere in Between" accurately describes where many of us happen to be at this particular point in time. In terms of a Lenten journey, we are somewhere in between ashes and alleluias. Others of us are somewhere in between doubt and faith, somewhere in between hope and fear, somewhere in between tears and laughter, somewhere in between pain and healing, somewhere in between resentment and forgiveness, somewhere in between hearing and listening, somewhere in between hunger and satisfaction (the list could go on and on).

But somewhere in between the distance and the dance

The water turns to wine

In recent years many preachers have lamented the fact that Biblical literacy has apparently decreased. They say, "Folks just don't know their Bible anymore like they used to."  I am sure there is some truth to that statement. However, I am amazed that many people, whether they read the Bible or not, whether they attend church or not, seem to have the basic information regarding Jesus' first miracle, namely, changing water into wine. As I wrote last year in the Stirrin Up the Water H2o devo's, this was Jesus' IPO, his initial public offering. It was at this event when he declared, "I will serve no wine before it's time." Well, actually that's what the GRV (the Glusenkamp Revised Version) states. The NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) reads, "My hour has not yet come." Here's the rest of the story from John 2: 1-11:

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' 4And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.' 5His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, 'Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.' So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.' 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

But somewhere in between the distance and the dance

The water turns to wine.

Miracles happen. I believe that. I don't know if that is a leap of faith for you to experience or not. Or maybe you believe miracles happened back in Bible times, but you're not so sure they happen anymore.

I've been somewhere in between these feelings and thoughts a bunch of times. And if you find yourself somewhere in between, you're in good company. But, I would like to propose a toast.

"May each one of us to become wine tasters today, to rejoice in the celebration that Jesus attends in our lives and to give thanks for God's presence somwhere in between."

l'chaim,

rtg