The secret words of easter
I've been reading a book about the building of the great cathedrals of Europe. What a story! I have visited many holy places throughout this region of the world and found them almost beyond description. But honestly, the story behind many of these mighty tributes to God is even more astounding than the finished product.
Most cathedrals took decades and often even centuries to complete. For instance, the famous cathedral of Notre Dame took one hundred years to build.
When I completed a 500-mile pilgrimage across Spain, I visited several massive temples dedicated to the glory of God. My destination was the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela, which was completed in 1211. Construction of the legendary home of the remains of the Apostle James began in 1075. In case you did not know, cathedrals are so named because they contain a single object – the "cathedra" or "seat." The cathedra is a Romanesque-looking seat where the Bishop resides. If there is no cathedra, the structure is not a cathedral.
Some say that miracles take place in such places, and I believe them. God indeed performed an extraordinary act when He provided the strength and resources for the then sixty-year-old pastor from Mechanicsburg to complete the pilgrimage. I learned a whole new level of perseverance on that forty-day trek. I also learned how many blisters on top of blisters one can attain on the heels of both feet. Some things you wish you didn't know!
Because of such long construction periods, few people who worked on these magnificent structures expected to see their work finished during their lifetimes. One author wrote, "Being involved in the construction of a cathedral, even as the building patron, required a willingness to be part of a process that was larger than oneself."
Such craftsmen, called "Master Masons," passed their craft along for generations. It was indeed an honor to participate in the construction of a cathedral. Masons were often paid according to the number of stones they laid. As such, each mason carved their mark on every stone they cut to enable them to calculate how much they were owed. I don't know if they drank bourbon or not, but their work certainly contained a "Maker's Mark." With time, maker's marks became a sign of pride and grew more elaborate. These signatures of great artisans remain on some of the stones.
It took many years of apprenticeship to become a Master Mason. Masons were part of guilds, which were part of a larger international fraternity. Masons lived a nomadic lifestyle because they moved from project to project. They were often called "Free Masons" due to the variety of soft stones used in their trade. If all of this sounds similar to present-day Free Masonry organizations, you would be correct, except that the original masons were builders by employment. Can you imagine growing up knowing that you would carry on the legacy of generations of great builders? What an honor. Each generation stood on the shoulders of the previous.
Which, by way of Europe, brings me to my two points. If you want to build something great, something lasting, it takes patience and perseverance. Those two ingredients are the essence of becoming a Master Builder. As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Your most enduring accomplishments in life will be the labor of a lifetime. Be patient. Stick with it.
By contrast, many of your greatest mistakes will result from impatience and giving up too soon.
Speaking of impatience, I sometimes think it is my spiritual gift! Over the past few years, I've been updating many aspects of my thirty-year-old home. Presently, my master bathroom is being overhauled. I've participated in many construction projects through the years, and I've learned that patience is a virtue when it comes to these endeavors. Yet, I still sometimes get irritated when things don't go as planned and according to my schedule. Plus, right now, I must walk all the way down the hallway to the other bathroom to do "bathroomerly" things. It is a real burden. You can pray for me during these terrible travails.
Yesterday I exercised my impatient gift because the bathroom is not coming together quickly enough for me. I fired off two short-tempered texts to two good friends working on different aspects of the project. I immediately felt remorse. How can one be sixty-six years old and still so impatient at times?
In any case, typical of the Lord's sense of humor, He immediately brought to mind the fact that I had been writing that day about patience! I repeat, many of your most foolish decisions result from impatience, which leads to a "give up" attitude.
Let's say you are a parent. Parents learn that their job is to raise their children until their late teens or early twenties and then "give them wings" to fly away independently. There is undoubtedly truth to this statement. However, as the parent of four thirty-something daughters, I've learned that my children still need both my input and, perhaps more importantly, my good example. I want to be a resource to my children until I draw my last earthly breath, just as my wife did before me. When it comes to parenting, I'm in it for the long haul.
Easter weekend reminds me of how patient and longsuffering is our Heavenly Parent. Though a day is as a thousand years to God, He is exceptionally patient and perseverant with us by human terms. From the time Adam and Eve made a mess of His perfectly designed plans until He sent His Son to die for us, thousands of years passed. All the while, our Father meticulously worked out our salvation plan. He endured watching us make one stupid decision after another and yet curbed His power to wipe us all out. God is exceedingly patient. We would be wise to thank Him daily for exercising this discipline.
It has been over two thousand years since Jesus rose from the dead, and yet He continues to allow more people to hear and respond to His love. Jesus good friend, Peter, put it like this. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). I'm sure you've noticed too that the world is a sinful mess. If I were God, I would have eliminated humanity years ago. I'm a work in progress. How about you?
I know that patience and perseverance are generally not words that float to the top around Easter. And yet, the most significant event in human history is all about these two disciplines. If you want to build something substantial and lasting, you will have to muster these character traits.
Cathedrals still dot the planet because they were built to glorify God for generations. Master Builders took the long view of things. I suggest we follow their example as we construct the temple of our own lives. It seems wise to me to constantly evaluate what is most important as we relate to others and act accordingly. Like our Heavenly Father, may we be known for building people up, not tearing them down.
"Thank you, Father, for sticking with us generation after generation and building us into glorious creatures that will endure for eternity. Thank You for the patience and perseverance of Easter."
