"2 They found the stone
rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they didn’t find the
body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They didn’t know what to make of
this." Luke 24:2-3
We celebrated Easter
with singing and shouting about our risen Lord, but like the women and the
early disciples we struggle with what to make of new life on an ordinary day.
We sing hope, yet look live in fear. The
disciples saw the empty tomb and were amazed, but didn't believe until later. We celebrate promise and live limits. What I'm getting at is that certainty is the
opposite of faith. We celebrate a gift,
a path, a direction, a love, an experience.
We celebrate a mystery that is barely expressed in any one account, or
accounted for in any one expression. We celebrate a faith that includes both
doubt and confidence.
Don't despair. Do what
those first followers did, ask fierce questions: Who took Jesus? How can I believe unless you show me? How could we possibly feed this crowd? Put those question alongside the
celebrations, the stories, the testimonies, and the truths, then take a
step. Take a step in any direction, but
take a step. That's a step of
faith. Yes it is, because it's mixed
with all that other stuff, God stuff, life stuff, YOU stuff!
OK, I may not have the whole thing down in a perfect
formula. There's probably a flaw in my
argument somewhere, there usually is.
But I'm taking a step into a conversation with you. I'm leaning into my experience of new life
this Easter, of Jesus, of Love and tip-toeing forward.
How about you? Yep, I
sang "Christ is risen..." and I shouted "He is risen
indeed!" I also did all of that
with questions, hurts, hopes, opportunities, struggles and so much more
swirling in my life. It's usually a bit
of a jumble.
Yet, it's my jumble, my story and because of Easter (at least
as a key in a bigger story/truth/promise) my hope. So, I'm singing, hunting eggs, chowing down
with family, and telling my story. Not
because I've got it all together, but because something bigger's got me. The words I have for that are Jesus, Love,
God, and Easter. My experience of God is a Love that won't let me go, a dependable
Love.
Now, I'd love to hear your celebrations and laments. I want to hear your story, struggle, hope,
and the words you have for them. You
see, Easter means to me, that there's room for all us to look at the situation
and not know what to make of it right now.
Let's have a meal and talk it over.
I'm confident there's more possibility to be found.
That's why I celebrate Easter. Why I say "Christ is risen." And why I'm still wrapping my mind, heart and
life around all that means. Happy
Easter. Christ is Risen Indeed!
10,000 Joys in
the Love of Jesus Christ, Pastor Dave
