Dear Friends,

I hope you had a Blessed Easter, full of family, good food, and a Spirit of new life. We are so lucky in the Northern Hemisphere that our Easter season corresponds with Spring. Picture having to imagine new buds on the trees, flowers popping up through the soil, chicks pecking their way out of hard shells, bunnies hopping across green grass and of course all under a canopy of blue sky. For us, Easter concides with the breaking of Spring.

Half of the world has to use so much more imagination than we do. They have to pull the memories out of the past. In the wintering of their land they have to believe that the new life lives just below the surface and that one day it will come to life. Easter for them must have a very different meaning.

It may be helpful to know about their experience if Easter isn’t arriving at a Spring time in your life. As we all know sometimes the world goes on even when we are stuck in sorrow and sadness. The seasons change even when the challenges of our lives dampen the joy all around us. it is possible to even feel resentment when others are able to move on and we just can’t seem to get our footing. Homelessness, illness, depression, grief, etc. can all keep us from feeling the excitement of the bursting forth of Easter.

If that is the case in your life, don’t be afraid to sit with Mary at the tomb – weeping. Don’t be alarmed if you want to lash out at God in anger or disappointment as did Judas and the crowd. Know that you are in good company if you want to run away and hide, not face the reality in front of you.

For you, the Good News is yet to come. And it will come. That is the real meaning of Easter. God has not abandoned you – no matter your circumstance. God is lurking, just below the surface, waiting to surprise you with great joy. And just as Mary found great surprise at the tomb of her Lord – so you too will, maybe even when you least expect it. God waits with you and for you.

Easter is all about hope. The Good is always yet to be revealed. We haven’t seen anything yet. Believe and hold on to that hope. 

Thanks to all who helped us celebrate a meaningful Holy Week and wonderful Easter.

Thanks be to God,   Rev. Jan