I have been meaning to write a post about Easter for a while but have not found time to do so until now.
Lent wasn’t as challenging for me as it could have been or rather I wasn’t challenging me as much as I should have! In general I dream big but when it comes to putting ideas into action I find I often hit a wall of resistance. My parents for my 18th birthday gave me a silver bracelet with Carpe Diem on it because they knew full well what I’m like! Anyway I set myself too vague, too dramatic a challenge for Lent and, being crafty, managed to create loopholes that meant I didn’t make much sacrifice at all. I have learnt a great lesson. If you want to change, start small, have achievable aims and give it to God. A habit takes just 6 weeks to form. In my six or so weeks of Lent I didn’t make that change, that sacrifice and I think it effected my understanding and appreciation of Easter, I didn’t experience part of the Easter story because I was weak! Thank God he knows us and forgives us despite our failings and inabilities. However, on a positive note, as well as denying myself (well, trying to) certain things, I also took something up for Lent - art journalling. Every couple of days, using cheap art materials and old magazines and newspapers, bible verses etc I did a couple of pages recording things I felt, experienced and learnt. I found it a really good way to relax on an evening and helped me experiment with my creative side, something that I think I repressed after school because it wasn’t part of my degree studies. Its been a process of rediscovering something that, though I am not very good at it, I do enjoy.
In the weeks leading up to Easter, both Dave and I fought off the cold bug that has been going round and were both in need of time off. Being unwell and tired meant I missed Palm Sunday which is the start of the build up to Easter, something I was quite frustrated about after though at the time, I just wanted to get rid of my blocked up nose!
The Easter weekend was different to previous years. Instead of a quiet contemplative Maunday Thursday service, we celebrated a Passover meal led by Jews for Jesus which was lively. Good Friday, in the past, Dave and I have fasted but this year, as well as the traditional lunch time service, we met with friends for coffee, friends for lunch and dinner and also went to see Amazing Grace at the cinema. (See this film. It is breathtaking, inspiring and a beautiful picture of what faith in God is like and what faith in God can do.) Easter Saturday was quiet, we laid low getting work and chores done and Easter Sunday was a raucous, family festival. At church, 4 people were baptised and 2 renewed their vows, the place was packed, the worship music raised the roof and the atmosphere was alive with hope and joy. This is how church should be every week! A big lunch with my extended family at my aunt’s, then home for wine and cheese and the anticipation of holiday which I will write about soon.
Easter is a wonderful time; a time where we remember the one who lived as one of us, who died to set us free and who rose again that we might be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus did on this earth until he comes again.
