What does Good Friday mean? What has it meant in the church? What does it mean today? And what on earth does it have to do with my finances?
Remember Little Miss Sunshine?
A family piles into a yellow Volkswagen Microbus to drive their sweetheart, Olive, to a beauty pageant across the country.
This road trip includes all the shenanigans you may expect from a cast of Steve Carell, Alan Arkin and Greg Kinnear – as well as the peculiar happenings along the way, such as the passing of Grandpa Edwin from a heroin overdose. But the pageant clock is running out and they smuggle the body across state lines in the back of the Volkswagen.
At the end of the movie, upon Olive’s reconciliation with pageant life, they return to the microbus to retrieve grandpa’s body. Opening the door, they find the body is missing.
Resurrection anyone?
The only reason this concluding scene doesn’t feel like a contrived or trivial and overly optimistic way to end this film is because of the honest and raw portrayal of the typically dysfunctional family. In other words, they earned it.
Today is Good Friday.
If you look up the “definition” of Good Friday in Wikipedia, you’ll read about the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary 2,000 years ago – and Good Friday is the “commemoration” of this event.
I’m not sure commemorate is the best word choice here.
Good Friday is only possible in a world of unhappy families, corruptive greed, violence, environmental degradation and beauty pageants.
The only reason the concluding scene of the Gospel stories, Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ, doesn’t feel hopelessly dishonest is due to the authentic and raw portrayal of Jesus, divine and human, to endure all that could be expected or unexpected in his life’s journey.
It’s Good Friday. But Easter is coming. The tomb is empty.
Incidentally, for many today is payday.
For too many, the amount deposited into their bank account will be just enough for the week ahead. Researchers at George Washington University recently found that many “middle class” Americans would be unable to come up with $2,000 in 30 days – which is the “cost of major car repair or legal or medical expenses.”
These moments of “not enough” are not fun moments.
Good Friday reminds us that even when we are at our lowest, when all hope is seemingly lost, when we’re on our last dollar and last ounce of faith, Sunday is coming.
Good Friday is that day we go through just before the richness of resurrection Sunday. A reminder, that right here and right now, in the midst of a perplexing and fearful world, hope and new life are possible.
It’s darkest just before the dawn.
The good news about your money:
The best things in life are free. They always have been and they always will be. When I hear stories of families getting out of debt, it’s really enjoyable to hear how they learned to have fun along the way. I offer this partial list to ask you, dear reader, what’s on your list?
- Walks with my wife around our neighborhood.
- Treating myself to a long night’s sleep.
- That triangle created on the windshield from the wipers on a rainy day.
- A cold glass of water.
- A new pair of socks.
- That moment when you realize you aren’t required to have an opinion about every little thing.
- Laughter.
- God.
- Inventing new recipes with the ingredients in your cupboard.
- Insights, learnings and other kinds of truth.
- Big, huggable and playful dogs with their owners in the park.
What’s on your list?
Written by Tim Schuster
Tim thought about offering a spoiler alert, but this movie is eight years old and if you haven’t seen it by now, you probably weren’t going to. But you really should see this movie. In addition, we’re fully aware that some of the items on this list of “free” things in fact have a cost. We’re simply highlighting how joy can come from everyday, common places. Tim’s opinions here are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of brightpeak financial. Additionally, brightpeak financial is not affiliated with or responsible for any of the outside content linked herein.
This blog post is from the Author's perspective and doesn't speak for brightpeak financial. Contact brightpeak if you want to know more about brightpeak products, and keep in mind that they are not available in all states and there are some limitations (some exclusions and restrictions may apply).
