Rocks

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 
- Luke 19:37-40

I grew up mostly in central Kentucky, except for a year or so in southern Indiana and a few in southern Ohio. But for the most part, I’m a Kentucky boy through and through.

Growing up in those areas, we seemed to always live in areas of town that were laden with woods, ponds and streams that separated neighborhoods from remaining farm land. And thus, there were always rocks available to throw, skip and explore at a moment’s notice.

In those rocks, the mini-geologist and archeologist in me would find little fossils, quartz, sparkles and fun shapes and sizes for my rock collection. 

From time to time, when there was not much else to do on a rainy day and like most any kid would do in those situations, I would let my imagination take over. So, I would go through my rock collection. Pick out those rocks that were least interesting and paint faces on them. Giving them a personality all their own.

Now, some 50+ years later, I think about those rocks when I read today’s passage. I wonder what their voices would’ve sounded like if the people on the road had not been singing praises to the Lord of all creation. If the stones had really cried out.

I wonder. 

Yet, deep inside, I’m glad I never heard them... I pray I never will.

“No rock. No stone. No way will they praise you more than I will.”  - The band Among Thorns

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem