The Link

    I heard an interesting sermon last night about Joseph of Arimethea. It seems the guy was a spectator of sorts while Christ was walking on the earth. He wasn't a hardcore disciple, but one who watched from the wings. He was rich and a member of the Sanhedrin. He was opposed to putting Jesus to death, but wasn't really committed to making a loud protest. He liked what Christ taught and was pretty sure that His message was different from anything he heard before, but Joseph was rich, and not too keen on losing all he had acquired in his life. So he watched from a distance. 
     But when it came to being there when it really mattered, Joseph really stepped up to the plate when he offered his own tomb as a place to lay Jesus' body. Otherwise, the body would have been thrown on a garbage pile along with the other bodies of criminals. Like a piece of trash. A very undignified burial. So, the important role that this secret disciple played was to provide a link between death and resurrection. He was a tentative Christian, but this one act of kindness put him into history forever. He even risked his reputation by boldly going before the Roman government and requesting the body so he could place it in an unused tomb-his own. 

Now, regardless of what you believe, it is an interesting story because it illustrates that each of us has an opportunity to do something significant with their lives, even if they are not really sure just what they believe. I can relate to Joseph- not the part about being rich, but the tentative part. I am a seeker of Truth and yet, I have an analytical mind and need to test and try everything before I give myself over to it completely. I wish I was more like the Apostle Peter who just dropped his fishing net and followed Jesus without giving it a lot of thought. But even he had his moments of doubt and denied knowing Jesus three times- the third time with cursing for emphasis!

So, each act of kindness is important. Each moment of believing is important. Each move in the direction of Truth is important. There is always the possibility that what I do could be an important link between earth and sky-the present moment in time and eternity.