Are there any gladiators out there?

If on any given Thursday you tuned out the world and tuned into Scandal, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

For those of you who are not familiar with one of my all time favorite shows, here is the Reader’s Digest version of the series: A former White House Communications Director starts up her own agency to deal with crisis management in the nation’s Capitol.  She works with her team to conceal people’s secrets. If you are in trouble, Olivia Pope is the first call you make. She even wears a white hat. Her agency is comprised of “gladiators.”

Gladiators are people who jump into the messiest of situations, no matter the cost.  

Then there are people like Olivia’s love interest, Jake, who wanted to run away from all of the messiness enveloping them and stand in the light.

“I want us to stand in the sun together.” said Admiral Jake Ballard.

But standing in the light means that our mess is exposed and we are left vulnerable.  

Sometimes we feel like it is easier to conceal our mistakes rather than to allow others to see our flaws.  

Maybe we believe no one will stand in our messiness with us.  

We distance ourselves from others, hoping no one will notice the weight that we carry deep within.

I wonder if that is how the Samaritan woman felt.  She came to draw water from the well at a time of day when she would not have to interact with others or be judged.

She had no gladiators to call upon when she was in trouble.

Until Jesus came to the well.

Jesus was a gladiator who jumped into the messy lives of others, no matter the cost.

“When the Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “ Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into town to buy food).  The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews did not associate with Samaritans).  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water .”  John 4: 7-10

Don’t miss what Jesus says here.  

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst again.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”   He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.  What you have said is quite true.” John 4: 13-18

He offers her the living water even knowing the messiness of her life.

That day at the well, He brought everything into the light and stood with her.  

Mess and all.

Friends, He knows our flaws, and jumps right into our messy lives.

He knew the cost would be His own life, and He gave it freely anyway.

Just like a gladiator.

I still have a soft spot for Thursday nights, but in my heart I know I need to follow His example and be a gladiator everyday.  

Stand in the messy places with those around you and love them as Christ would love them.

Are there any gladiators out there?

Living in a house with three men, it is common for some sporting event to be on our television.  

Football.  Basketball.  Golf.

And even though I do not always understand the rules, I do love to watch the excitement and joy that follows a victory.

Tiger Woods return to glory, winning the Masters again this past Sunday was one of those moments.  Witnessing the embrace between him and his son shortly after he walked off the course was a snapshot many will remember for years to come..

That rare and beautiful moment that takes your breath away and sometimes brings a tear to your eye.

I had a moment like that eight years ago.

It was right before Easter.  

Our friends, John and Amy had gifted a place at the beach for my husband and I to take our boys, then 10 and 8 years old.  

I had just finished my last round of chemotherapy.

Despite their generosity, it was not a journey I wanted to make.

My body ached.  I was drained both physically and emotionally.   

The thought of spending hours in a car almost brought me to tears.  

But something deep inside nudged me to say yes.   

So I packed my wig and my clothes, and away we went.

We shared the joy of being together.  Watching the boys play in the sand, eating pizza at the Grotto.

And going to church together on Easter morning.

We arrived too early for the service.  I had mistakenly read the start times for worship.

Our family was greeted by a friendly older couple who welcomed us to wait in fellowship hall, where the boys could have a snack until it was time to go into the sanctuary.

While the boys had cookies and punch, John and I struck up a conversation with the husband and wife.  

It quickly became evident why God had brought us there early.

Their daughter had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

I listened as they shared their hearts with me. I offered what comfort and insight I could into the road that lied ahead.  Sharing my journey brought healing to me as well.

God speaks through us and to us in the most remarkable ways.

On that Easter Sunday, He used me to speak words of hope to that couple.  

And then He used my 8 year old son, Daniel to speak words of hope to me.

It is a moment that still takes my breath away.

When we had initially entered the hall, my eyes were immediately drawn up to the ceiling.

There were large poster boards dangling from the ceiling tiles, etched with words like addiction, divorce, loss of job, death of a loved one.  They seemed to represent the pain and suffering that others had overcome. I glanced at them briefly and focused my attention back to our conversation.

But my son had been studying these 30 plus boards as he nibbled on his cookies.

Excitedly, Daniel ran over to me to get my attention.  

He pointed above him, exclaiming and proclaiming:

“Look, Mommy, look!  Cancer didn’t win!”

That rare and beautiful moment that took my breath away and pierced my soul.

I knew that God had already claimed victory over my cancer.  

But even more importantly on Easter, He proclaimed victory over death.

And I cannot tell either story without getting emotional.

Friends, Christ laid down His life because of His great love for us.   

And even though He felt physically and emotionally drained, He said yes to the journey.

He proclaimed victory for us all.

On this Good Friday, share the greatest story ever told.

His love for us is too great not to share.

Amen.

“The Lord is my strength and my song, He has given me victory.  This is my God, and I will praise Him – “ Exodus 15:2