as it is day; night

I have a whole series on minor characters in the NT that I want to start soon. By soon, I mean soon. Like now.

The easy reading of the Gospels is that the main character is Jesus (obviously). I think this is in some ways not the perspective that He would hold reading about Himself. Two reasons: as God Almighty, He is the main character in everything -- that's how He wants it [Lord of all]; secondly, part of the importance of MMLJ is how you and all others respond. The minor characters -- trust me, you are minor -- become, in effect, the true narrative-carriers.

The world works today via these minors. Leaders take the headlines while their nameless ones take the load. And the NT functions, really, as the lessons learned by these minors and these nameless ones. Side note: one of the benefits of eternity to me is removing their -less.

Let's start with spitclay-eyes (John 9). In v. 12, he is asked the question that defines him to me. His answer: he has no idea. In inarguably his greatest moment in life -- not regaining but gaining something lifeshattering -- the excitement of the great overwhelms him to the point of lostness (lost being defined by being nowhere near Him).

I've always seen trial and joy as two sides to the same coin. During trial you feel apart because of the crushing weight of suffering; but you also feel the comfort and can focus on the knowledge that all this, too, shall pass away. During the joys, you get the thankfulness, so there's that; but you also get the effervescence of it all, and the accompanying celebrations often envelop the Joybringer.

Spitclay-eyes fortunately gets the second chance, and he takes it and runs with it and gets it right, forehead to ground.