It's Friday. . .

Friday, the end of the work week, a day off, a chance to relax--today is all of these things.

It is also a day I need to be working on a paper that is due Monday.

My paper is for my communication class, and I'm analyzing a dialogue in the movie "The Namesake." The father is explaining to his son the significance of his name, Gogol, which the son has disgarded for "Nicolai" or "Nick." Nicolai was going to be his name when he started school, but as a five-year-old he wanted to keep the more familiar one.

In The Namesake, the father, Ashoke, (who was born in India along with his wife Ashime), explains why "Gogol" has such significance to him and why his American-born son carries this name. It had to do with a train ride back when Ashoke was a college student. He was reading Nicolai Gogol's book The Overcoat. While he was reading it, an older Indian man was asking if Ashoke had traveled much, and encouraged him to travel abroad, since Ashoke had his life ahead of him. "Pack a pillow and blanket!" he said. "See the world!" Ashoke said that's what books were for--to travel the world without moving an inch.

Then the train crashes, and Ashoke is the only survivor. He never forgets the gentleman's words, so he travels to the US to study, comes back to India for a wife, and returns with her to the east coast of America. He doesn't forget the author Gogol, either.

So the father, in the movie scene, explains all this to Gogol. The son replies, "Baba," (the Indian term for "Dad")--is that what you think of when you think of me? Do I remind you of that night?"

"Not at all," Baba (Ashoke) responds. "You remind me of everything that followed. Every day since then has been a gift . . . Gogol."

On Friday, some 2000 years ago, Jesus cried out the name of his father. Had the Father forgotten the Son? Had he forsaken the one whose name is loved and treasured above all names?

No--he turned away from the sin that Jesus bore that terrible moment when the son seemed to be forsaken. But that moment was for everything that followed.

On Good Friday the gift of payment for sin was given. On Easter Sunday the glory of the resurrection and the reminder of new life for all who believe in the name of the Son is fulfilled.

I hope, as I work on my paper, I can remember the price the Son paid for my sins, and know that he knows my name and has sought my redemption on the cross.

May your Friday be a good one, and have a blessed Easter.

Till next time,

Suzi