Do I live in Saturday?

Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified and died. It's called "Good Friday". Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. It's called "Easter". Saturday is that...., it's called.... Oh yeah, Saturday has no special name, no special services, no anything. It seems, at best, to be a space filler between Friday and Sunday, with only debatable activity occurring on both earth and in the spiritual realm. (One of my former professors has just posted a bit on Saturday - http://kenschenck.blogspot.com). So, the question is raised, of what importance is Saturday? Furthermore, with Saturday appearing to be a filler between two bookends, do I find myself living in that time?

Second place syndrome
I believe that most of us know what it's like to be the runner-up. We tried, came so close, but not close enough. I ran track long ago. It seemed on many occasions that my best race was just good enough to finish second. I won as well, but for some reasons, those second places are more vivid in my memory. I played very competitive softball for many years. I have several trophies from that time to this very day. Yet, out of all of the trophies, some of which are bigger than my kids, only one is for a first place title. That one is also the smallest one. Actually, come to think of it, I believe it was broken this past year by one of my cats. So there you have it, no first place trophies to show for it. Oh well, I think I hurt my hamstring during that tourney anyway...
There are so many interesting titles for that second place finisher, too. Runner-up. Second fiddle. First loser. Wonderful titles... Who remembers the second place person in any band? Messina? Oates? Garfunkel? Ridgeley? Stewart? Everybody wants to be the lead singer, sit first chair in the band, be the next "American Idol" and on and on...
Second place or being in-between is so unglamorous. Who remembers the time between World Wars I & II? You had the Roaring 20's and then the Great Depression. The times were and still are interpreted by the bookends of the world wars. The in-between seem unglamorous and are readily forgotten.
Yet, in reality, despite perceptions, are the in-between times any less important, any less vital to developing the overall story? Is the backstretch any less important in running a complete race than is the start or the final meters before the finish line?
In my own life is Saturday, where I find myself right now, that self-described limbo - see my post on the ordinary being extraordinary if you would like further insight - any less important than the Friday - my past and the Sunday, my expectant future?

Saturday, in proper perspective
I would argue that without Saturday, Friday and Sunday exist without context. If I may leave my own story behind for a moment, I'd like to examine the perspective of Jesus' disciples. On Saturday, it seems clear that the disciples would have been in deep hiding. Their master, the one that they had devoted the last three years of their lives to, had been killed. On one hand, it must have seemed like they had put all of their bets on the wrong horse, so to speak. We are told on more than one occasion that the disciples didn't understand what Jesus was talking about at the time until after he was resurrected. But I jump ahead... Back to the disciples on Saturday. What a woeful time! They must have been cowering in fear. No doubt Peter was a mess, having just betrayed Jesus three times. One of their own number, Judas Iscariot, was gone. We're told that the disciples, save for the "beloved disciple", who was present at the cross with Mary and the other women, etc., all scattered and deserted Jesus. It's clear that the other members of Jesus' own family had deserted him, as his burial was attending and cared for by non-family members, a true contradiction of what those times mandated. Family members were to provide for burial, but that cross brought public shame, shame that wasn't to be messed with by a family that didn't understand Jesus to begin with. Have I painted a bleak enough picture? Saturday was really a dark, lonely and despairing day.

The promise of Saturday
Yet, as bad as Saturday was (and is), without it, Friday was just a day of suffering. Sunday wouldn't have happened, as it would still be a day off in the future. James 1:2-4 contain some truly enigmatic and strange words for those who are currently in Saturday. I wonder if, in hindsight, the perspective of James, the brother of Christ, that was colored greatly by that very Saturday, led him to write these words - when taken in proper perspective: "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (NRSV).
Be joyful in trials? Enjoy Saturday? That seems impossible. And yet, that is exactly what we are to do. Why? Because without trials and testings, our faith is weak. Anyone can believe and follow Christ when life is easy and good. We pray for blessings, not trials, right? We pray for deliverance FROM trials, not TO them, right?
Back to the disciples... They were in the midst of a dark and almost undeliverable, at least from their perspective then, time. Saturday seemed to go on forever. Yet, it was that very time of despair and testing that made Sunday so remarkable. We're told that some of the disciples, when told of Jesus' resurrection on Sunday morning, actually ran to the tomb. They had been so shaken by Friday, so beaten down by Saturday, that Sunday was a jolt and shock to their system! When deliverance came, it nearly overwhelmed them! In fact, for at least one of the disciples, Thomas, his despair became so deep that Sunday morning wasn't enough for him. He was stuck on Saturday! This makes me wonder, then, am I?

Learning from Saturday
It's easy, with our present-day perspective, to gloss over Saturday. I no of no great books that have been written on the topic. I doubt one would become a best-seller, anyway. No evangelist uses Saturday for revival messages. The focus is almost always on Friday and Sunday. Why? Because it's easier and more dynamic to use those days. Yet, where are most people living their lives? I would argue that most are living their lives on Saturday, myself included.
However, we will do a gross injustice to ourselves and to the life that God has granted us if we become, like Thomas, lost in Saturday. We will become full of doubt and lacking in perspective if we become lost in Saturday. We benefit the knowledge that Sunday occurred then. The disciples didn't know until it happened. Perhaps, those of us who are currently living in Saturday would benefit from remembering that Saturday is but for a time and in the words of E.K. Bailey, "Friday is here, but Sunday is on the way!" The same may be said of Saturday. Saturday is here. I am living in Saturday. Saturday is all around me and I feel like no relief is in sight.
Even so, I must remember the blessed truth that Saturday exists to give Friday and Sunday context. Without Saturday, my faith is weak. Without trials, I receive no benefit, no joy from my faith. Therefore, in trust and faith, I must stand in the knowledge that Saturday is but for a season, but Saturday exists for a reason!