Good Friday

Good Friday.

For most people, any Friday is good.

For Christians, the capital 'G' makes it a significant Friday.

The 40 days of Lent have concluded and Holy Week is well underway.

It is a sorrowful day, except that we know what follows.

For our family, it is also a time for returning 'home,'

whether we live close or far.

Our home backs up to a small, usually slow, meandering river 

well-known for Civil War battles along its banks.

.... it is our our secluded backyard park.

... a place to wind down.

.... step away from the 'schedule.'

...a place to lay our burdens down.

if only for the sunset....

or a conversation with a parent.

Over the years, Easter has been documented (much to our teenage dismay and to our own kids glee) with photos in the luscious green of springtime.

and there is a particular 'rock' where this takes place.

(and yes, that's the '70's look....)

Our own children have come to expect this to be part of the Easter 'tradition' 

 photos on 'The Rock'  

.... after egg hunting is complete.

(and do NOT moan and groan as we did!)

This Easter weekend, as with many before, my mother had the Sunday family meal already planned, and by Good Friday it was prepared and in the refrigerator or freezer.

The 'photo on the rock' had already been mentioned.

Flowers were waiting to be arranged.

The plumber had arrived early to take care of one more small issue, 

leaving her free to attend the noontime community Good Friday service.

But, unlike ANY other Good Friday, 

THIS is what appeared about 12:30 pm ....

(thanks to j.wassom for photo)

there were subsequently minutes-to-hours-to-days of confusion, poor phone reception, traffic tie-ups.  trying to determine who was where, and most of all, had anyone had contact with our mother?

the answer was NO.

and this was why.

(plus, the fact her cell phone was charging on the kitchen counter)

the front door....

if you could get there.

we couldn't.

and when we could,

it didn't look much better.

this view....

only shows how nasty the whole situation really is.

Fortunately, a neighbor in the same dire straits had seen her at the Good Friday service...

since her mobile phone was charging in the kitchen....

not to mention the condition of the den....

The birds we watched out back have nowhere to perch......

the post for the feeder is in the center of the photo.

.....and the rubble is the den.

the Easter lilies did eventually get arranged for the Easter dinner enjoyed 3 days later

... which is a bit surprising, 

since the adjacent room 

is essentially gone.

                                            

                                                                                        

 this...                                                          

will not be the same

or even close

for a very long time...

For my family, and very many others in this town, 

Good Friday will be followed by 'Tornado' for many years to come.

Spring and fall bring turbulent weather around here and tornados are a routine part of the weather news.  The people and towns affected are covered in the news.  For one day.  Maybe two.  After that, it's old news and everyone else is moving on. But for those who have lost their home, their routine, their life as they have known it, the one month mark is still the beginning.

  ..... and the end seems nowhere in sight.

it may well be how the friends and disciples felt on the first Good Friday..