Every year, large numbers of people remember and celebrate three historic days that they believe changed the world.
These days were so pivotal in history that many songs have been written and sung about them.
These days have people reflecting upon what took place in a garden and all of the good things that came from it.
Now, of course, if you gather a random assortment of some of these people together, you may be surprised to learn they are talking about two different things.
One event had important moments that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane around 2,000 years ago and ultimately led to us having the opportunity for eternal life in Heaven.
The other took place in a “garden” on a farm near Bethel, N.Y., in August of 1969 and gave us Jimi Hendrix playing the “Star Spangled Banner” and a lot of mud.
No, I am not elevating the Woodstock Music and Art Fair to the level of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I’m merely fascinated by the fact that they are both events that took place over three days, both were life-changing (in their own respective and differently-measured ways), and both call upon people to, as I said, get “back to the garden”.
In the garden
There is a massive difference between “You could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40) and one exhorting that he has a “little help from my friends” (Joe Cocker), for the friends of Jesus, most of them, actually abandoned him following his arrest.
While Yasgur’s farm had Pete(r) Townshend, Jim (James) Felder, and John Entwhistle, Gethsemane had Peter, James, and John, the three Apostles Jesus wanted closest to Him as he prayed so hard and so all-in for God, that “his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Rather than focus our energies and being close to creative celebrities, let’s put ourselves in a place where we are all-in for God in our prayer.
During His Passion, Christ was fully aligned with His Father’s will for Him.
His prayer in the Garden shows this. He wanted two things there — for his friends to be with Him and to totally pray and communicate with his Father.
That is what we should strive for this Lent and beyond. We should aim to be with Jesus, whatever that “hour” looks like for us.
Let’s also follow His example and pray with all of ourselves to Our Father.
I’m not saying you have to bleed through your skin while you pray, but whatever your prayerful “all” is, give it.
Continuing the journey
As we continue to focus on following Jesus during His Passion, and not be taken in by things like Woodstock, let us remember that Christ gave us His mother Mary as he told the Apostle John to “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27), thus no longer wanting any of us to “feel like a motherless child” (“Freedom” — Richie Havens).
The hundreds of thousands in attendance in the fields may not have known it, but as Mr. Havens was singing, it was August 15, the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Mother.
Come the next day, a man named Gregg sang to everyone to change their “evil ways” (Santana), but looking at the footage of said festival, it doesn’t appear like many did. A pity, really.
Later in the evening, another singer noted that not only “On top of the sky is a place where you go if you’ve done nothing wrong,” but also that “And down in the ground is a place where you go” if you’ve been bad (“Heaven and Hell” — The Who).
Later, Mr. Entwhistle asked in verse “Why can’t we have eternal life and never die?”. Oh, but you can, John, you can.
Who knew the messaging was all there on those three days, but it may have been missed.
Peace and love?
I’m, of course, not saying everyone chooses either the Passion or Woodstock to devote their time and energies to. They are, however, two examples of seeking the same things, yet in different directions.
Woodstock promised peace, love, community, art, new experiences, music, and freedom.
Through pain, suffering, and sacrifice, Christ gave us all of that and more.
The “vibe” of the summer of 1969 and that whole decade may be fading for those who experienced it — and were able to capture some good from it — but Christ’s love and mercy that he gave us on His three days about 20 centuries ago is still flowing strong.
Let’s keep an eye on our neighbors in the mud and care for them. Let’s feed the hungry and take care of the sick. Let’s love each other as we’ve been called by God to love each other.
So, when you’re looking to get “back to the garden” (“Woodstock” — Joni Mitchell or Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), perhaps you might try Gethsemane and “pray that you may not undergo the test” (Luke 22:46).
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.