The Rabbit Hole

A friend and I pray together on the phone every week.
We look forward to our phone call.
We talk through things going on in our lives.
We talk about things that need prayer.

I often talk to her when I am walking.
I admit (and she already knows) that I usually have her talk when I am walking up a hill.
The hills are my time to listen.
It gives me a chance to catch my breath.

Usually by the end of my three mile walk, we are finished our conversation.
I may linger on my driveway as we pray at the end of our conversation.
We usually talk and pray on the same day of the week.
However, the day may change depending on our schedules.

I tease her that we are solving the problems of the world.
We have our opinions on things.
We have solutions, at least in the confines of our hour talk.
Mostly, it feels so good to hear our own thoughts on certain issues.

A trusted friend is a cherished gift.
Sometimes, just putting an issue on the table really helps.
Sometimes, hearing a friend’s response or correction is exactly what we need.
Sometimes, the silence of a friend is the greatest gift.

The other day, my friend and I were talking about our country.
My friend and I do not have the same color skin.
It is so helpful to talk through some of these issues with her.
We both learn so much from one another.

My friend is struggling, just like me.
We are tired and weary of the conflict and division we see all around us.
We are angered at the blatant disregard for life.
We are saddened by the violence as cities and towns are burned and destroyed.

Can we all just be quiet for a while? My friend asked rhetorically.
There is just so much noise! She continued.
I read something where someone said: No. More. News.
We both discussed how the 24 hour a day news is a problem.

We remember the days of investigative journalism.
We remember the days of checking and double checking your sources.
We see the drive for being first to report a news story.
Sometimes, in haste, things are reported too soon before all of the facts have been checked.

Sometimes I just want to crawl down a rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland, she admitted.
I smiled as my friend went on to explain what she meant.
I listened until she was done.
I knew what I wanted to say to her.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”  Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.  When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.  Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”  (Mark 14:32-42)

Jesus wanted to crawl down a rabbit hole, too.
Jesus prayed in anguish because He knew the suffering that was ahead of Him.
Jesus prayed in the Garden for the cup of wrath to pass by Him.
Jesus relinquished His will for the will of His Father.

There, in the Garden, with blood tinged sweat, the battle was won.
There, Jesus laid down His will.
There, Jesus submitted to His Father’s will.
Jesus’ obedience to His Father’s will secured our salvation.

Wanting to crawl down a rabbit hole when things are hard is not wrong.
Actually crawling down the rabbit hole is the problem.
I told my friend as much.
It’s OK that you want to crawl down the rabbit hole, but I will never let you, I told her.

If I want to crawl down a rabbit hole and get away from everything, you won’t let me, I said.
That’s what friends do.
Friends speak; friends listen.
Friends walk to the edge and pull the other back.

I hear the word, systemic, used as an adjective to explain all that is happening.
The only thing that is systemic is our sin.
Sin is the umbrella under which falls: racism, bigotry, murder, and violence.
Systemic sin is the problem.

People think they are good enough.
They don’t murder like that person.
They haven’t t looted any stores.
But if someone could peer into our hearts, we would be ashamed.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Can we be quiet for a while?
Can we listen to the still voice that tells us how much we are loved?
Can we listen to the One who calls us back from the rabbit hole because He understands?

Do quiet helping.
Do quiet listening.
Let the noise and clamor cease in our hearts.
Then we will hear the One who obeyed so that we can be saved.