Acclaim is a wondrousthing, not wonderful, just wondrous, worth pondering. So much of our life, we seek it but eventually many of usfind a certain hollowness in its ring. I am wondering how Jesus felt about theHosannas being lauded upon him on that first Palm Sunday. Did he know the wayhis week was going to turn out? Did he know that within in days they would all distance themselves from him? The community that gathered didn't know where they were headed.For them he was a hero, who signified the fulfillment of God's promises. The movementwas catching on. There was a significant size here, a critical mass, that couldlaunch a turning in their world. While democracy wasn't the government of theday, nevertheless a movement could still happen among the people.

But a movement requires an organizing of the relationships,a certain connectedness, 'civic wiring' if you will. That's a big differencefrom just being a crowd. In fact a crowd can be the antithesis of public change. A crowd caught up in a shared thought, hope, dream, illusion,chant – blessing or danger?

There is certainly danger for the one acclaimed. If one believesthis is my moment, this is my high calling revealed and acclaimed, if onebelieves the projected yearning for heroes is about me personally, then a crashis around the corner. Acclaim may get one a chance to wire together a movementand wiring together a movement may get one acclaim but beyond that acclaim is nothing more than astirring of the wind at best, and, if the acclaim is believed, it becomes athreat to one's wholeness, sanity, and true fulfillment.

Beware celebrities, movie stars, politicians, athletes, preachers.Beware one's 15 minutes of acclaim. It is not worth building a life around sucha goal as this. Now building a movement…that may be a different story. What is worht building a life around?

For many of us this is the Palm Sunday week-endwhich begins our Holy Week…Good Friday is on its way…so is Easter…but, for today, one dayat a time.