The Journey Begins – The End Will Be Wonderful

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 

Dave Bowman : You see, something’s going to happen. You must leave.
Heywood Floyd : What? What’s going to happen?
Dave Bowman : Something wonderful.
Heywood Floyd : What?
Dave Bowman : I understand how you feel. You see, it’s all very clear to me now. The whole thing. It’s wonderful.
From: “2010-The Year We Make Contact” 

The above quote from the 1980s sequel  to 2001 – A Space Odyssey has Dr. Heywood Floyd reuniting with Dave Bowman, one of the astronauts, about the spaceship “Discovery”, which was reported lost, but is found very much intact. Bowman knew he had to be aboard the journey from Earth when Russian scientists located the craft near Jupiter. Bowman’s quest was not only to learn what had happened. It was a self-examination of what had gone wrong, and what role he would play to make things right, and, if you’ve seen the movie, you know that option is out of his control. 

We begin the Lenten journey as we begin many: with a sense of faith, a longing, humility, and hope. We want to add the good to our lives, not simply remove the negatives. “Giving up something” is limiting. “Giving into something’, like service to others, repairing damaged relationships, or simply growing one’s own faith life, are all positives. 

There are always obstacles to overcome, such as personal pain, rejection, ignorance, and an unwillingness by this world to see the joy that comes from listening to the prophet who exhorts us, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” Joel 2:12.  

It is time. Time for self-examination, time for doubt to move to assurance, time to make the leap from sadness and fear to prepare for the great joy that is Easter. 

Yes, we prepare ourselves for the Passion of Christ and His glorious Resurrection.  

Yes, it will be “something wonderful”!