ho·ly
hōlē
adjective
1. exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness

It is Holy Week.

The neighbor dog barks, the rhythmic crunch of gravel keeps a beat with every step, and I am surrounded by beauty – a pink and orange sunrise to the east, and a full, orange moon as big as Dallas setting in the west.

The nose-crinkling smell of pigs wafts down the street after a truck goes by.

A beginning band trumpet player serenades to the practice-will-make-perfect tune of “Jingle Bells,” as we walk by.

Adult cats who are accustomed to social distancing sit under cars eyeing us with a stare reminder to back off, Jack.

Downtown is empty at 7:45 in the evening with the exception of “We are the Champions” by Queen playing on the crisp and static-y speakers attached to the light poles

Evidence of spring is finally beginning to take shape, and the first flowers we notice are purple phlox just waking up from a long winter.

Occasionally, a fly annoys enough to require a hand swat in front of our faces.

Banana is adventurous enough to experience grass for the very first time, and he loves it so much he runs full speed across the yard and out into the street, only to be scooped up quickly and reprimanded with a stern “no.”

The 68 degree breeze whistles through the window screen and offers such a peaceful background noise while I work, along with mourning doves cooing, robins gossiping, and blackbirds announcing to the rest of us they are back and ready to annoy.

Monotony is interrupted by a squeal and scream of a child playing in the safety and confines of a back yard.

³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”^[a]

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” – Luke 19:37-40

A Dad and son enjoy time together playing a yard game, laughing together after a particularly bad throw and then waving “hi” to us as we walk by, socially distant and safe on the brick covered street, nonetheless.

Foster son beep-beeps at us with a big grin as he rides by on his electric scooter, a semblance of freedom after feeling trapped inside for so long.

The harmonization of the big wind chime keeps us company during lunch on the porch as Split is fascinated by a new toy with 8 legs, skittering as fast as it will go to escape her curious paw.

It is Holy Week.

My internal jukebox is playing an old favorite, from Friends Church days: The Lord is in His Holy temple, the Lord is in His holy temple,
Let all the earth keep silent.
Let all the earth keep silent, before Him.
Keep silent.
Keep silent, before Him.

Even in the middle of what we’ve never known, storefronts are festively decorated with bunnies and flowers and springtime colors. Our neighbor at the end of the block reminds everyone who goes by that the cross is still the most important yard display in these times of uncertainty. My mind swims with menu ideas for the three of us on Sunday.

The earth is much quieter right now. It makes Holy Week even more poignant. It is a good time to recognize all that is holy and worthy of our praise and gratitude.

Besides, God still has us in the palm of His hand. The gravel, the birds, the flowers waiting to burst, the welcome breeze, the sunrise and the moonset – they all say the same thing to me this week. The worst thing is never the last thing. Just hang on, keep silent, and enjoy His holy creation.