Palm Sunday- How is this a good idea? What were they thinking?

Being a father of three boys on Palm Sunday has a unique challenge.   It is one of those times that, as much as I love the Church, there are times I can tell that is it lead by celibate men with limited experiences with children.   Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to give sword-length palms to boys?  I spend most of the Gospel reading (which of course is really long) making sure that my family's pew does not turn into the next battle ground of an Umpa Lumpa crusade.   To add to the fun, my two and a half year old daughter decided that her palm branch is some kind of magic fairy wand.   I feared for the blue-haired grandmother in front of us.  Unbeknownst to her, her life hung by a thread between being attached by a troop of half-ling Knights Templar and having her fur coat transformed into a cute baby kitty cat by some magical spell.   How is this a good idea?  What were they thinking?

Isn't this case for God's plan for salvation?   As we enter Holy Week, we see that God's plan many times doesn't make sense.  His ways seem like folly and foolishness.   How did the Trinity think that sending down the Son incarnate in order to be rejected and suffer on the cross was a good idea?  What were they thinking?   And the ironic thing is.... It worked and it is glorious!

There have been numerous times in my life when God throws a wrench in my plans.   I wish I could say I handled these situations gracefully with faith and obedience.   Typically it involved me be anxious and telling God that this was not part of the script.   This way is not easy God.   This is rough and that better not be more suffering coming along.  But God's ways are glorious.   Yes there may be crosses but there are resurrections.   There is loss, but so much gain.  There is loneliness, but companionship with a divine creator who has been through the suffering too and offers us the opportunity to be transformed through the cross and share in his glorious resurrection.

Why do we worship?  Because God's way is so much better and glorious than ours.  Who else can bring together all the pieces of our lives in such a marvelous and miraculous ways?  Lord, help me surrender more to you.