TexasGirl Photography

This Lent, this Easter Triduum, has been different than any other most of us have experienced. Live streaming the liturgy has been strange, to say the least, although I would be willing to bet it’s far stranger for the priests in the empty church, and I am certainly grateful for the technology that allows us to participate from home. (For once, I’m actually thankful for Facebook and social media).

After watching the abbreviated Holy Thursday Mass (abbreviated since there was no washing of the feet, etc), I went digging through my archive for photographs from previous years, and found some from two years ago. It was by far the most difficult Lenten season of my life – yes, really, it was more of a challenge for me than this crazy spring. The circumstances I lived through then had me completely beaten down, mentally, emotionally, even financially. My spirit was broken.

Then I had a powerful experience when I was out for a run. . . .thinking over the state of things in our lives, I was almost at the point of collapse and was in tears realizing that in spite of my desperate search for help there was no one who could help us at all. I didn’t even know anyone who had walked my path before, who I could turn to at least for advice or consolation.

In the next moment, words came to me from the Stations of the Cross, from Isaiah “I looked about, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that there was no one to lend support; so my own arm brought about the victory.” I realized that I DID know someone who had walked my path. Someone who knew exactly what I was going through, because He had experienced it Himself – and overcome it all. Not only that, but He had endured it for me.

I was so humbled and ashamed in that moment, but also joyful, because it finally hit my heart that I was not alone. Christ has taken all of this upon himself – everything – from gut-wrenchingly awful personal battles to panic-stricken pandemics, and the Good News is that while we might not know exactly what tomorrow holds, while we might not be able to control a single thing about it, we know how the story ends.

So looking at the photographs I made in 2018 during the Triduum, what I recall is hope, joy, and peace. I recall the moment when I finally handed everything over once and for all to the One who is always trustworthy, always faithful. Lent and Easter are my favorite part of the liturgical year, and I am as thankful for it today as I have ever been. I have complete faith that one day soon I will stand side by side with my brothers and sisters and rejoice together! He is Risen! Today, and every day. Happy Easter!

These are digital photographs, made for my friends at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church. They are from Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday 2018, in that order. The testimony comes from my own life and heart.