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 During this week of Lent, our gazes turn upward to the mountains, punctuating scripture and those silent witnesses of God’s unfolding story. We’ll explore how these elevated spaces reveal God’s majesty and presence and foreshadow the ultimate mountain: the hill of Calvary. We will trace how these mountain encounters, filled with revelation and transformation, ultimately point us to the highest peak of hope – the resurrection. For in the rising of Jesus, the ultimate mountain of death is conquered, and the landscape of our lives is forever changed. As we reflect on these sacred heights, let us discover how the mountains of Lent prepare us to receive the glorious, life-giving gift of Easter’s dawn. A collective reflection on God’s grace and our chances for renewal Wednesday, March 19, 2025 |
Letting time fly Matthew 14:23, Luke 6:12 “Time flies when you’re having fun.” – every parent ever My dad often used this line with me, but it was typically when I was doing something NOT fun, like chores or mundane tasks. Time did not always fly in the Toelle household growing up. But doesn’t it, though? Time in meetings that could have been emails seems so much longer than coffee with your best friend. Seasons of change drag on longer than seasons of fulfillment. Time is weird if we’re being honest. And it seems to slip away quickly. Time has always been a struggle for me—being on time, spending too much time, and balancing it. Something weird I’ve always envied about Jesus was how he viewed and used his time. He never felt rushed. I never felt like he hurried through a conversation or checked his watch. As I’ve spent time thinking about this trait in Jesus over the years, I feel like it stems from his habits of spending time with his Father. Several accounts show us a glimpse of Jesus’ prayer life. In Matthew 14:23 and Luke 6:12, Jesus prayed…like a lot…for a long time. But rather than being struck by the time, my mind has wondered about something else. What was Jesus praying about? I keep imagining the weight of what surrounded these moments of all-night prayer: conflict with religious officials, feeding thousands of people, saving the disciples from a storm, and healing people. Yet, amid the swirl of emotions and pressing demands, Jesus intentionally chose to step away, find solitude, and connect with the Father. And time flew. Night fell. Jesus prayed. What do you think Jesus prayed about that night? Was it for his disciples, still learning what it means to follow him? Was it for the multitudes of lost souls he came to save? Or could it have been for you—yes, you—thousands of years down the line, knowing you would read these words and seek connection with him? I want to think it’s all the above. Time spent with God often feels like time suspended, a sacred space where chaos fades, peace abounds, and time can fly. What swirls around in your life? Jesus shows us an example of not only knowing what swirls and feeling its weight but also letting time fly and being alone to pray. Wherever you find yourself on the journey with Jesus, amid the waves of life, find a moment with Jesus and pray to him, not as a figure to impress but as a friend who loves and knows you best. By DJ Toelle |
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