September 6, 2025
Fifty is an important number in the Bible, indicating the Year of Jubilee, when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and ancestral lands restored. The Holy Spirit arrived 50 days after the resurrection and remains to this day.
It’s been 50 years since I graduated from Penn State. A full half century later Rod and I are enjoying a field hockey and football weekend in Happy Valley. Much has changed. The field I played field hockey and lacrosse on is now occupied by an academic building. Today’s field is artificial turf, so much faster and infinitely smoother than the grass field I played on. There is stadium seating, an electronic scoreboard, restrooms, concessions, and locker rooms.
The quick, fast, competitive and aggressive young Lady Lion of the past is now a grandmother, wrinkled, grey-haired and sporting replaced hips and knee. Instead of sitting in the bleachers I see myself on the field. I’m cutting and sprinting and encouraging my teammates. “Well-played, you’ve got this, nice try, I’m here.”
It hit me yesterday that I am the young lady, and the older woman and all the ages in between. The things that bring me joy today aren’t scoring goals. They are relational born in moments of presence, of beauty, of love, of acceptance.
I, my friends on death row, and you, are not defined by just one moment in time. We are not just a winning goal, or a tragic moment. We can live in the reality of Jubilee, of restoration. Not because of our actions, for good or ill, but because of the grace of God given to restore the world.
“Well-played, you’ve got this, nice try, I’m here.” The Spirit whispers in my ear, in the ears of all God’s children. And it is very good. ~ Anne
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