It was one of those too rare early spring days that unexpectedly emerge out of the blue.
The sky remains clear, the air fresh, temperatures slowly rise and hover in the low 70s and the distant haze dissipates, revealing the purple majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I could only be outside a short time, but I savored every moment as a sense of rejuvenation flooded my being.
“I enjoy putting this exhilarating, artistic spin on my Creation,” Jehovah God thinks aloud. “Behold, that’s good. Why don’t I do this more often?”
Indeed, if these kind of magical days did appear more frequently, I suspect we’d soon take them for granted, like so many other undeserved gifts and blessings regularly bestowed.
Easter is such a gift. The day itself skips around the calendar each year, arriving as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.
Whatever the date, when it comes, I accept it gladly and unwrap it eagerly.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the season by hiding and hunting colored eggs, dressing up, enjoying a special meal or singing “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” (who remembers that Gene Autry rendition?). In fact, the Energizer Bunny makes sure this aging boomer still gets a basket of carbohydrate delights. But that shouldn’t be the primary focus.
The events surrounding that first Easter were dark, confusing, tragic and, yes, violent. There was trepidation and mystery, cowardice, betrayal and denial. But, there was also the introduction of a new access to the divine initiated at that Last Supper, as Our Lord broke bread, shared the cup and washed the feet of his bewildered disciples in that Upper Room.
“Do these things ‘til I come again,” he admonished, as the shadow of the cross loomed ever larger.
Waiting on the other side of this turbulent train of events were prophecies and promises kept, miraculous appearances and disbelief turned to belief and certainty. A stone blocking an empty tomb was rolled away and with it, the sins of humankind – a new day had arrived.
These extraordinary events re-echo in this Scripture passage, full of blessed assurance:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases.
Who redeems your life from the pit;
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
– Psalm 103:2-3 NASB
Whatever age or life stage, I must continually ask: what is that new thing seething in my innermost being that is itching to come to full flower? If we don’t respond to that seed of newness and cultivate and water it regularly, it will wither and die. What a misfortune.
In Easter are sown the seeds of freedom, forgiveness, grace and reconciliation and peace, individually and corporately.
God quietly and patiently whispers to each of us, “Come, accept this gift of renewal, of new life,” and surely tires of hearing the response, “Thanks, but I’m content (or just indifferent) with things as they are.”
Why would we spurn a gift so rich and free, when acceptance allows us to go forth boldly into the bright and shining new day, living in the power of the resurrection?
Jim Bishop is public information officer at Eastern Mennonite University. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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