Out Our Way: It's Friday - but Sunday's coming! - Psalm 31:9-16

Out our way, there are many things that give a lift to the heart. The smell of lilacs in May, the sight of Saddle Butte in the early morning, Charlie and me riding the Tiger Ridge looking for strays, and, of course, the sound of the meadowlarks.

Some of you may recall that story I tell about being caught in a blizzard down in Wyoming on a back road. The nearest town was 50 miles away and my car started having engine problems. Turns out the highway patrol had closed the road after I had turned on it just after leaving Cheyenne on my way to Torrington. Anyway, there was no traffic but me out there in the big lonesome as the blizzard nearly blinded me and the car began to mysteriously start slowing down. I was down to about 5 mph when I topped a ridge and saw Bear Mountain Conoco down at the bottom. I coasted down and rolled in a few minutes later with a totally dead engine. As I stepped out of the car, the blizzard suddenly stopped, the clouds parted and sunlight hit the sandhills — and the meadowlarks started singing. Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” never sounded so rich and beautiful as that choir of meadowlarks. And where there had been fear, depression, and high anxiety — there now was peace. No wonder I love the meadowlark. 

As we entered Holy Week, I was thinking of that incident … and also of a great Good Friday sermon I once heard on the radio. It was a black preacher whose theme was “It’s Friday — but Sunday’s Coming!” In his message he reminded us of Good Friday — the horrors of the arrest, pseudo trial, flogging and crucifixion. He reminded us of the humiliation, terror, and horrendous suffering Jesus endured that day. Jesus had known for a long time that Calvary was up ahead. He knew what Friday meant. But He also knew what was going to happen Sunday.

From that point on, the preacher spoke about the rails and tribulations we all face in life — how we all have our own versions of Golgotha from time to time. But then he reminded us. “It may be Friday — but Sunday’s coming!”

Right now the news is filled with the terrors of the coronavirus. How bad will it be? How long will it last? What will the damage be to us as individuals, as a community, as a nation … as the human race? Some of us will likely get the virus. Some of us may die or see loved ones die. The news reminds us daily, and almost delights in reminding us, that it is “Friday.” But what they don’t report or remind us is that Sunday is coming.  

The Church services may be canceled for Easter, but the reality of what we celebrate remains. And maybe we will remember what we celebrate is more than colored eggs and cute bunnies … much more. Read your history and see that we have survived plagues, wars, famines and other “Friday” disasters. And even in those darkest hours, some faithful voices have reminded those with ears to hear: “It’s Friday — but Sunday’s coming!”    

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write “Out Our Way.” He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].