Ashes to Fire – Blessings

Today’s prayer begins, O Lord, I thank you for all your daily blessings… Maybe it’s the human condition or due to the amount of bad news that is at our fingertips and before our eyes every day that causes us to dwell on the negative around us, in others, and yes, even within us (sorry for the long sentence).  We are called daily to recognize blessing.  It is a blessing that God is mighty, that he calls us his own possesion and that there is a rest for us…for me (see Psalm 50:1-2, Deuteronomy 9:29, Hebrews 4:9-11).  When we read the story of Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus in John 3 we think that Nicodemus was blessed to have met Jesus even if it was in the dark of night.  But remember later on it is Nicodemus who is taking Jesus down off of the cross.  I wonder if Nicodemus thought that was a blessing?  It will only be after the resurrection that Nicodemus realizes the blessing it was to care for Jesus at the cross.  Lord, may I recongnize the blessing of being with you in dark times and in your presence at the foot of your cross.  I long for resurrection!