Image courtesy of: findstuff2

How could He be dead? She spent the weekend crying every time she thought of him hanging on a wooden cross.

When it was still dark, she came to the tomb where his bloody, bruised and torn body was laid to rest. She wanted to see him one last time.

She couldn't believe her eyes: the heavy stone rolled away and the tomb, empty.

How could my beloved friend's body be missing? Mary wept bitter tears. Where was he?

He had set her free from seven demons that tormented her day and night. Because of Him, she now lived with purpose and friends. She didn't hear the voices any more telling her to hurt herself.

Later, a man wearing a plain tunic, whom she assumed was the gardener, asked her, "Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She inquired if he knew where Jesus' body was so that she could take him away.

"Mary!" said the supposed gardener. The world and her weeping stopped as she turned, and said, "Rabboni!" and ran to Him.

"You're alive!" she cried as she clung to Him. He was no longer dead and bloody. Now she wept tears of rising overwhelming joy at a dream come true that was so good because it was real.

It was no longer dark. She had seen the Light of the world. He was alive. Nothing would ever be the same.

This story was inspired my participation in the St. Ignatius Spiritual Exercises and by: link here to John 20:1-18.(Mark 16:9 tells us that Jesus delivered Mary from being possessed by 7 demons.)

For the past month, I have been pondering and imagining what it was like for Mary to be the first person to meet the resurrected Jesus. To realize that what He had been saying earlier about him rising from the dead was no fairy tale but touchable truth/reality.

As I mused this morning, the tears came. And I sensed God speaking to me: Sometimes it may seem like I am not here in the dark, but I am. I am alive, and I am with you.

Lately, God has been showing me how He was present in my dark times although at the time, He seemed absent. Grateful.

So dear friend, I thought of you today and about the darkness, the loss, and your tears. And Jesus seems to be missing. He sees you and your tears. He's calling your name.

Subscribers, link here to hear Josh Wilson's song, "Before the morning" and the inspiring true story behind it. FYI: might need Kleenex.

If you don't want to watch the short documentary, here's a video of the song with lyrics.

When have you heard Jesus calling to you? When has Jesus seemed like he was MIA, but in retrospect, you can see He was present?

If you feel comfortable, but no pressure, please share in the comments, so we may be encouraged by your story.

Praying that you may sense His love and presence today. I may write more of Mary's story in a later post.

Need a gift?...To buy Emily Wierenga's lovely artwork on a journal, t-shirts and mugs, please visit http://www.cafepress.com/tspoetry

Linking up with God-graced sisters: wonderful Jennifer of Getting Down with Jesus,  encouraging Emily of Imperfect Prose and her wonder team, and my newest linkup with Michelle of Thought Provoking Thursdays at htttp://intentional.me .

© Soul Stops/Dolly Lee 2012.   Limited License: Okay for noncommercial use if you attribute this post to me and link to my permalink and blog.