Easter Again - M. Laycock

So, it's Easter again. I've seen almost 62 of them come and go. When I was a little girl it was an exciting time of casting off winter wear and buying a new dress. Sometimes there was a new spring coat and hat and shoes and once (yes, I'm that old) I even remember a pair of white gloves and a little purple purse. I was too young then to grasp the spiritual significance of Easter but when we walked to church that Sunday it felt special, like a new beginning. Like anything was possible.

And, really, that's what Easter should feel like. That's what Jesus intended to tell us that day when he walked out of his tomb. He wanted us to know each and every one of us is so special to Him he was willing to die for us. He wanted to tell us He was opening the gates to a new beginning that would have no end. He wanted to shout to the world that now, now anything is possible. Because He died and rose again. Because He loves us. Because of His grace.

I love Easter for all of those reasons. But sometimes they're hard to hold onto. Special? Me? No, not really. I'm just a more than middle aged woman with chemo-frizzy hair. Nothing special about me. But then I hear Him whisper and it's as soft and warm as a spring breeze. "Hey, you know I love you, right?" And I'm brought to my knees because to Him I am special. In fact I'm His beloved. And because I keep forgetting, He keeps telling me so.

A new beginning? Maybe I'm just a bit too old for that anymore. I've seen a lot of dreams die. I have manuscripts that were written with such hope and promise but now they're buried and as good as dead. But then I hear Him say, "It's time for that one to shine now." And hope rises up like a tsunami that doesn't crush and destroy but lifts me up so I can see a bigger picture.

Anything is possible? Well, maybe not anything. I don't have the energy or time or resources for anything. But then, like Paul I can say ... "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ... (for) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3: 8-10).

This grace ... to preach, through our own words in story and song and every creative endeavour ... the boundless riches of Christ. That is possible, because of Easter, because He loves us, because He rose again to make it possible.

It's Easter again. Hallelujah!

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