The parade of a lifetime

Today’s Reading: John 12:12-15(NIV)

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your King is coming, seating on a donkey’s colt.”

Good morning!

I enjoy attending community parades. The town of Salem, Missouri offers one of the best Fourth of July parades I’ve ever been to. Everyone grabs their lawn chairs and blankets, lining the downtown streets while listening for the sounds of the Salem Marching Band drums in the distance. One does not have to worry about missing the beginning or ending of the parade. The fire trucks and police car sirens can be heard for miles as they lead the procession down Main Street. Many churches and civic organizations work for months on their parade float entries. Some of the offerings are absolutely stunning. It is easy to see the time and effort that was invested in creating the perfect float for this parade. How the children love those clowns! They ride along the sidewalks on bicycles and in wagons, throwing candy into the crowd and making funny faces. You can hear the laughter and see the smiling faces of people everywhere. After the parade, one can hear music coming from the courthouse square, and smell the barbecued beef and chicken wafting through the air. Bright balloons of red, white and blue and American flags dance in the summer breeze. The historical society offers tours of its history museum. After the tour, you can sit a spell under the massive oak trees, enjoying a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade. There is nothing that compares to the hometown parade. In the evening at the park, fireworks fill the night sky with amazing color. It is a reminder of our past, present and future. Families sit and lay on blankets under the stars, looking for the first firework to launch. Until then, we remain content, enjoying the company of family and friends. We revel at the sight of the lightning bugs with their built-in flashlights blinking at us from the air, spending time waiting the coming of the main event.

It was a hometown parade in Jerusalem that day, and all the people were abuzz with delight. The children were seated on their father’s shoulders, as they looked down the path for the Savior to walk by. You could hear the palm branches flapping in the breeze and the beginning of the chant, “Hosanna,” as Jesus appeared on the back of a colt. There were smiles and tears of joy everywhere. People were excited to see the man from Galilee. Some even said, “Blessed is the King of Israel!” It was a parade one could never forget. Jesus Christ is our main event and when He arrives, everyone looks up. Things change forever in the Master’s holy presence. There will be another parade, and it is coming soon, capturing human hearts all over the world. We await the Master’s imminent arrival. We strain our ears to listen for the sound of the trumpet and look up to see the white horse riding across the sky. It will be a parade we will never forget. Are you ready for the parade of a lifetime to begin?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

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© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

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