Mordecai's Preservation of Jews Brings Unique Perspective to Easter
Perspective always has two sides, right and wrong. During tough times, the right perspective can propel the least likely among us to greatness when the fiery passion burning within inspires them to do the impossible. Pressing forward, they inadvertently change the world around them with each painful step. They understand they cannot control what happens in their times, but, as J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." A couple examples come to mind.
Mordecai was one of those world-changing, history-altering kind of guys recorded in the chronicles of the Media and Persia kings. Mordecai was a sort of ancient day Netanyahu whose perspective inspired him to immediate action to preserve the Jewish race. He reminded the orphan girl he adopted who later became queen that her rise to royalty was not about her but rather to aid in the rescue of the Jewish people "for such a time as this." Much like Netanyahu, Mordecai feared the outcome of his inaction more than he feared death and pressed forward.
After all, the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but rather a life which fails to reach its potential. Despite our personal circumstances, all men are given the same chance and the same amount of hours in any given day to change the world around them. All it takes is the right perspective. History abounds with "Mordecai-s" and amazing people like my music pastor friend Marc whose devotion to his calling, despite personal circumstances, continually inspires. You see, Marc has Cerebral Palsy but Cerebral Palsy has never had Marc.
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Orphaned with his twin brother at birth, and diagnosed with CP as an infant, his doctors had no clue what to expect regarding his physical or intellectual potential. Despite not walking until age two, Marc became increasingly mobile after a series of surgeries, braces and therapy. After attending a school for physically handicapped students through third grade, he transferred to the public school system at fourth grade level. Becoming increasingly efficient at the piano, he added clarinet to his repertoire, participating in the non-marching band at his junior high school. After school and on weekends, he earned extra money pulling a cart behind his bike collecting newspapers and magazines to recycle, joined his community's swim team and regularly participated in church activities. He graduated high school on time, despite attending on crutches while recovering from surgery. After graduating from college, he pressed on, earning a master's degree in music, got married, has two sons, walks, hobbles with a cane and has never uttered a word of complaint, according to his adoptive mother and his wife. Though his story is not yet complete, one thing is for sure, he is a hero in the eyes of those who know him. He's the best of the best, but he'll be the first to tell you it's all about Jesus.
Without Mordecai, there would be no Jews, so there'd be no Jesus for Marc to credit and Christ followers to celebrate this Easter week. It really is about perspective. Life is best understood when we, the "here and now" earth dwellers view it from a rearview mirror. You see, we look at a cross, the Cross, and see death and finality, while God, from his unrestrained eternal view sees the opposite. So the eternal God who created time did what we cannot do and crossed the dimensions of both. And they called him Jesus... whose right perspective inspired him to do the unthinkable. He carried our burden on his back -- up a hill and nailed it to a cross. Crossing the restraints of human death, he arose, promising those who believe, the best is yet to come…but in the meantime, they press on.
