Plants are being made ready to go outside, summer tires are ready for installation, and I’m tuning up the bicycle for April exploring. The excitement of warmer weather is infectious and more and more of the conversations over dinner are about our outdoor plans. Even though there’s still snow on the ground and a bit more snow is likely to come, the pull to escape to the outdoors is irresistible.
After 6½ weeks of Lent and remembering Jesus’s sacrifice, our excitement for Easter is also finally here. We’re only two days away from celebrating Jesus’s resurrection and the promises, hope, and joy that he gave to our world. We’ll come together on Sunday to rejoice with each other and remember that, no matter how dark our world seems, God’s light is always with us.
But this is just the beginning. After Mary met the resurrected Jesus at the tomb, she shared her joyous news with the disciples. We’re called to spread that joy too. The best gift we can offer a world struggling with fear, discrimination, and conflict is hope. May our Easter joy be like the seedlings in our windows – growing stronger each day so that we can go out and shine God’s light in the world.
Rev. Paul Whynacht
