May

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We write this letter on April 15th. The snow is still falling. We had to cancel worship and all activities today. Where is spring? And yet we know it is going to come. We know that one day the winter will pass and new green life will spring up. We know it. And so today we stayed inside and spent some time talking and sharing a warm drink. We watched the snow, and as sick as we were of the weather, we still beheld the beauty amidst the cold snow. There is still life out there you know. A few green shoots were there below the snow. Animals are already active and moving (though this must be quite shocking to them). And we watched some Murder in Paradise and dreamed of sun and beaches. And we knew that spring would come. 

Sometimes in the cold and dreary moments of life we may wonder where Easter is. Where is Easter in the grief of losing someone we love? Where is Easter when war and violence continue in the world? Where is Easter when we can’t get up in the morning because of depression, or when our pain from illness is a daily grind, or when we struggle with addictions that hold us prisoner? 

Yet as God’s children we know it will come. New life will break in. Because Christ has always broken in with new life, just as spring always breaks in after winter. We will rise from the dead and find new life. And in the meantime, even amidst the cold and snow, there is life. It is already breaking through! And it will break through in its full- est sense- it will. Easter is happening and it will come to its full bloom in the time ahead. And we will rejoice! 

We have always loved the following little story: A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Walmart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. 

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Walmart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. 

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so care- free as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. 

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ She said. ‘What?’ Mom asked. ‘Let’s run through the rain!’ She repeated. ‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied. This young child waited a minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain..’‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said. ‘No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm. ‘This morn- ing? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’ ‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘ If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! 

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. ‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,’ Mom said. 

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked. They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. 

Easter is coming. In fact it is already breaking in. It’s always here…whether or not we can see it beyond our own experience. So embrace this moment whatever it may bring with faith and hope and joy. 

Spring and Easter will come, just look they are already breaking in. 

With Hope and Joy, 

Pastors Cris and Dave