Lent: Held

One look in Karmen's eyes last night, and we both started crying.  We were at a Sara Grove's concert when Sara started talking about friendship; how her group of four close friends stand at the corner of a stretcher for each other.  That story did us in.  Both our minds went to this Scripture:

Four men came to Jesus carrying a man who could not move his body. These men could not get near Jesus because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof of the house over where Jesus stood. Then they let down the bed with the sick man on it.  Mark 2:3-4

Several years ago, four of us adopted this Scripture as our standing orders.  We would be at the corners for each other so that we could always feel supported.  Since then, our little group has tested the stretcher many times, and we've taken our turns holding and being held.  I even wrote a song called "At the Corners" to seal the promise. 

Four Corners:  Vicki, Emma, Karmen, me

Now one of us is gone.  When Emma died of cancer two weeks ago, we stood together and grieved.  Part of the grief is that the image of the four corners doesn't work anymore.  It's all lopsided.  

Today, Lent reminds me Christ fills all empty spaces.  He holds all things together.  He girds up the weak points.  He is the final word on standing in the gap.  Emma is with Him in heaven even as He is with us here on earth, standing in her place.  

Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

Karmen, Sara Groves, and me