Today is Good Friday. The ground is shaky and the shadows are growing, even to the point of ultimate darkness. Jesus’ death is this act of complete isolation, amidst betrayal, denial and forsakenness. Our creeds speak of Jesus descending into hell –the ultimate place of separation from the community we were created for. Utter isolation.

As I walked this morning with those in my isolated bubble, using the KPC reflective walk I became aware again of the pain in our shared humanity. Amidst the beauty of sunshine, beach and bush, found in my local community, there is also the shadow of death. Today the second death from Covid 19 was recorded in Aotearoa, and I am reminded of the shadow we live under. As we walked we wore the crosses we had created with care and delight, but they too are this mix of beauty and pain. They speak of our humanity –a mix of beauty and pain. Even within my own small bubble, there are shadows. Shadows I have a choice to lessen by drawing closer to the source of Light and choosing that way of costly love.

And so as we journey our way through another day of Holy Week, I light a candle beside my sixth square –the red one that reminds me of the blood of Jesus –bled out of costly love for a world in pain.