Easter Sunday

This is a weird Easter. There is no gathering of the community in our Easter finery. No music, no fanfare, no Hallelujah Chorus and goosebumps, no hugs and coffee hour. There will be no Easter dinners, no egg hunts and no golfers. We’ll do our best and have a service on-line, but I know it won’t be anywhere close to the same. I’ll miss the traditions and coming together in person to celebrate.

Honestly, I’ve had a hard time even getting motivated to think about Easter. With this pandemic it almost feels like we’re stuck in The Day of Tears (my name for Good Friday). Some days I feel like I’m stuck in the movie “Groundhog Day,” where the same day happens over and over again (if you haven’t seen it, it is a must.)

But, here’s the deal (and I’ve been thinking about this a lot), Easter happens anyway. It doesn’t matter that we’re in the middle of a pandemic, or that we miss each other, or that we’re feeling down. Easter still happens, because Easter isn’t about any of those things I mentioned. Easter is about transformation and new life. Easter is about hope and renewal.

It’s funny to think that the “first” Easter wasn’t even “Easter.” It was simply a day that dawned full of grief, loneliness and despair, only to be completely turned around by an amazing encounter with the recently executed Jesus. Call it resurrection, call it a vision, call it a knowing, but whatever happened that day gave people hope that death was not the end, it was simply another beginning. And mourning turned to dancing. Lives were transformed and have continued to be transformed.

I finally found the energy to celebrate Easter, because I looked around and saw spring happening. The crocuses and the daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing and doing their mating dances, and we get an occasional warm breeze that fills my soul with hope. Even more, Easter happens because no matter how many people hoard toilet paper and seem to care only about themselves, there are many more people who reach out in kindness and compassion. Easter happens because no matter how corrupt our governments become, love and justice are still at work. Easter happens because no matter how dark our days become, there are others risking themselves to make the world a better place. 

May we all live the life-giving, transformational spirit of Easter today.

Love & Light!

Kaye