Rest

They heard Him say,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

And cry out,

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

And,

Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.

And,

It is finished.

They were enveloped with unnatural darkness for three eternity long hours.

They saw the veil of the temple ripped from top to bottom.

They felt the earth move and shake and shudder under their feet.

And then, it was all over. 

His limp body taken off the cross. Wrapped in linens. Laid in a borrowed grave.

Except that they didn't know at the time that it was just a borrowed grave.

And then,

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:56

How does one rest after all they’ve seen and heard and felt?

How does one compose his or her soul, how does one quiet his or her body to rest after everything that had happened?

How does one scoop up all the darkness, and violence, and confusion, and love, and tenderness, and forgiveness and broken-heartedness and release them … like feathers… like butterflies… like doves into the love of God?

How does one gather up all the darkness, and violence, and confusion, and love, and tenderness, and forgiveness and broken-heartedness, wrap them in linen cloth and lay them in a grave and roll a stone over it?