Easter Sunday
Friends, we made it.
We made it to Easter.
But it doesn't really feel like it, does it?
This is no doubt one of the most bizarre Easter Sundays we have experienced.
Easter often consists of church services, big lunches with friends and/or family, and if you are very prepared it means a new outfits for the whole family (in the perfect Easter pastel or floral print, of course). But this year, it looks more like staying inside at home, maybe FaceTime or Zoom calling family, maybe watching a service online, and - if you're prepared - making a big Easter meal.
For me today, Easter looks like wearing floral leggings, bright yellow socks, my favorite slippers, and a comfy shirt, while relaxing on the couch with my husband. We have FaceTimed family, I spent some time reading today's lectionary texts, Clay made us dinner....overall it has felt like a pretty normal day (as normal as social distancing feels on Easter...). And while today feels normal, that doesn't mean it feels right. I miss singing hymns with my congregation, I miss having lunch with my family, I miss the feeling that comes with the celebration of Christ's resurrection side by side with fellow believers...and yet, there is still good news to celebrate.
Because of Christ's resurrection we have hope and new life. Death has been defeated, and while we still see the residual effects of darkness we know that ultimately God is triumphant and we have been given the gift of new life in Christ. New life!
This is good news.
No matter what darkness we may be encountering we can lean on the hope and the promise that new life will spring up from it, or even in the midst of it! It may take longer than we would like sometimes, but because we have a good God we can trust that in the end God's goodness will shine through.
This makes me sigh with relief. Because if I'm being honest, I still feel like I'm stuck in a time of darkness. Life is not going how I thought it would (if you didn't already know this, I'm a planner), the world feels like a mess (oh hey COVID-19, etc.), and yet I have hope because I know that God is one who has risen and resurrects; bringing life from ashes, hope from despair, light in darkness.
Hallelujah!
So, if this is something I believe then that means I have some reflecting to do.
A friend of mine asked the following question in a Facebook post today and I had a hard time finding an answer...She asked, "What new life is God creating and/or inviting you to, in the midst of very death-y circumstances?"
So that is what I'm dwelling on right now, where I might be seeing the new life that God is creating and/or inviting me into. And while I may not have a direct answer at the moment, I do know that this invites me to be more attentive to my life, and despite the social distancing, helps me be grateful for the huge community of people that I can rely on and connect with (thanks, technology!) that helps me remember what the church looks like. And I don't think that is nothing.
So, what new life is God creating and/or inviting you into?
Happy Easter, friends. May God's goodness, hope, and new life be evident to you, and if it's not, may you trust in the God who brings new life until you can see it.
We made it to Easter.
But it doesn't really feel like it, does it?
This is no doubt one of the most bizarre Easter Sundays we have experienced.
Easter often consists of church services, big lunches with friends and/or family, and if you are very prepared it means a new outfits for the whole family (in the perfect Easter pastel or floral print, of course). But this year, it looks more like staying inside at home, maybe FaceTime or Zoom calling family, maybe watching a service online, and - if you're prepared - making a big Easter meal.
For me today, Easter looks like wearing floral leggings, bright yellow socks, my favorite slippers, and a comfy shirt, while relaxing on the couch with my husband. We have FaceTimed family, I spent some time reading today's lectionary texts, Clay made us dinner....overall it has felt like a pretty normal day (as normal as social distancing feels on Easter...). And while today feels normal, that doesn't mean it feels right. I miss singing hymns with my congregation, I miss having lunch with my family, I miss the feeling that comes with the celebration of Christ's resurrection side by side with fellow believers...and yet, there is still good news to celebrate.
Because of Christ's resurrection we have hope and new life. Death has been defeated, and while we still see the residual effects of darkness we know that ultimately God is triumphant and we have been given the gift of new life in Christ. New life!
This is good news.
No matter what darkness we may be encountering we can lean on the hope and the promise that new life will spring up from it, or even in the midst of it! It may take longer than we would like sometimes, but because we have a good God we can trust that in the end God's goodness will shine through.
This makes me sigh with relief. Because if I'm being honest, I still feel like I'm stuck in a time of darkness. Life is not going how I thought it would (if you didn't already know this, I'm a planner), the world feels like a mess (oh hey COVID-19, etc.), and yet I have hope because I know that God is one who has risen and resurrects; bringing life from ashes, hope from despair, light in darkness.
Hallelujah!
So, if this is something I believe then that means I have some reflecting to do.
A friend of mine asked the following question in a Facebook post today and I had a hard time finding an answer...She asked, "What new life is God creating and/or inviting you to, in the midst of very death-y circumstances?"
So that is what I'm dwelling on right now, where I might be seeing the new life that God is creating and/or inviting me into. And while I may not have a direct answer at the moment, I do know that this invites me to be more attentive to my life, and despite the social distancing, helps me be grateful for the huge community of people that I can rely on and connect with (thanks, technology!) that helps me remember what the church looks like. And I don't think that is nothing.
So, what new life is God creating and/or inviting you into?
Happy Easter, friends. May God's goodness, hope, and new life be evident to you, and if it's not, may you trust in the God who brings new life until you can see it.
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| My very fancy Easter leggings and bright yellow socks for your enjoyment. |
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