Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up to a high mountain by themselves.  There he was transfigured before them.
His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:1-3

This verse is comforting because I believe it shows Jesus' human side more so than His God-hood.  Growing up in church I was taught and continue to believe Jesus was fully man and fully God simultaneously.  (Discussing these theological ideas isn't the point of this blog entry.)  The reason why I take comfort in these verses is because even Jesus needed relief from his humanity.  People demanding his time, the constant ideological warfare with the entrenched political and spiritual systems, and his own personal needs must have been overwhelming.  Each one of us, myself especially, periodically need a reprieve from the stresses and routine of life.  Time away is essential and crucial to my emotional and mental well-being.  Yesterday I returned to Fort Worth after a few days vacation in Kerrville and Leakey, Texas.  I didn't cram my schedule with a bunch of things to do in order to keep me busy or entertained.  The vacation simply removed me from the routine of life so I may gain and re-orient myself to an objective view of life.  A mental reset is crucial and necessary from time to time.  Now I'm back in the game of life as I face the daily grind of reality.  Next week I'll have another break from the routine of life as I meet a friend in Dallas for a time of food and fellowship.  Maybe these times away will rejuvenate me in preparation for when school begins on August 27th.  I'm already beginning to feel like the mythical Phoenix arising out of the ashes.  The prophet Isaiah further expounds on the topic,

The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 
the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  Isaiah 61:1-3

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