I am in a funk and suppose I do not have much to say. All is well here. School is proceeding well, and our home remains a happy and comfortable place. Yes, we all long to get out for various reasons, but we’re not suffering from crippling anxiety or depression or anything.
We’ve started saying, “When the quarantine is over we’re going to….” or “The first thing I want to do is…”. The weeks haven’t moved any slower than usual for me, and while I’m not anxious to log another four weeks in quarantine, I know we’ll manage so long as everyone stays healthy.
I’ve been anxious for Easter since Lent began, even more so now so I can resume eating sweets and drinking wine. I can manage through Lent, and pick myself up when I stumble along the way because I know with great certainty that Easter is coming. God brings good from all circumstances, even the death of His son on the cross. Of course, from that tragedy, God gave us the greatest gift of all.
We didn’t deserve an Easter Sunday. We had done nothing that merited God’s mercy. We were not entitled to Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. And yet He opened the gates of heaven to us anyway.
Perhaps if we believe that God can manage to find a way to make our stained and imperfect souls worthy of eternal life, we can trust that He can help us find the Easter Sunday, if you will, of any bad situation. Perhaps we can stop thinking about how we’d like things to be, and simply sit with Jesus in the garden knowing that as bitter as this cup is, God can transform it into something greater than we can imagine.
Maybe we can stop thinking about how things should be, and pray instead to learn what we should be doing while things are the way they are. Maybe instead of directing anger and suspicion at God, or anyone trying to do the best they can in this crazy situation, we can extend just a little of the grace God extends to all of us crazy fools. Maybe we can unite our feelings of suffering and loss with those who suffered the greatest at the loss of Our Lord’s physical presence in their lives and left the closed tomb on Friday with no way of knowing what was to come, even though Jesus himself had tried to tell them.
Evil did not get the last word on Golgotha, and we cannot allow it to take root now through pride, anger, gluttony, etc. because of fear and uncertainty. Don’t let Lent get you down. Don’t allow the sadness of Good Friday to overshadow the fact that Easter is coming. It is from the darkest and most uncertain of times that we are made new.
Have a blessed Easter and link up your Takes below if you’re so inclined.
This is beautiful, Kelly.
Thanks for your words, Kelly. If that’s what you have to say while in a funk, then I think you’re a fantastic writer.
My church had General Conference last weekend and the messages I appreciated the most were the ones that emphasized the power of Christ to help us “find the Easter Sunday.” In particular I could read this Conference quote over and over: “Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ.””
Happy Easter to you!
Holy Spirit, you who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideal, you who gives me the divine gift to forgive and forget all the wrong that is done to me and you who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything, and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. To that end and submitting to God’s holy will, I ask from you..(mention your favour). Amen
This prayer should be said for 3 consecutive days. After the 3rd day, your sincere wish will be granted no matter how difficult it may be. Promise to offer thanksgiving by sharing it and expressing it on granting of your favour. The idea is to spread the wonder of the Holy Spirit.