Sunday, April 4, 2010

Dearest Glorious God,

My well of joy was full to overflowing this Easter morning. Where does so much joy come from? It comes from you, Great and Wonderful God. Even the birds sang out their own canticle of praise before the sun rose.

I don't know when I have sung the Easter song more joyfully than I did today. Being a blessed part of the choir, I felt as if we sang with angels and saints. The brass trumpets, the bells and baroque organ played their God-given tunes as we sang out the Hallelujah Chorus. I could not keep from smiling because I believe with all my heart every word we were singing. And to think around the world millions, hundreds of millions and more were singing too the song of faith.

Easter has never just been a holiday to me. It truly is the culmination of all I believe. I love Lent because it puts faith into perspective. I would never dream of celebrating Easter without making the journey with Christ on Holy Week. It's near sacrilege to me. If we can't walk the talk, why bother go on Sunday morning?

Lent came so quickly on the heels of Christmas this year that I had to adjust myself to make ready. Yet, I wanted to enter the season preparing for the homecoming of Easter. I wanted to wear the cross on Ash Wednesday not because I was special but because I was not. I wanted to make that intentional journey to the cross because I often forget that Easter is not Easter without Good Friday. Although our stores offer it that way, I am repulsed by the idea of Christmas without the creche and Easter without the cross.

What I did not know on Ash Wednesday was what you would do in my own personal life during Lent. As I read Lent's daily devotion and felt my own self making the pilgrimage, I simply took your hand and walked with you. At times I felt a greater tug when I was falling behind or simply gawking at the scenery around me. I am sure you remember those moments when I wanted to run ahead. You just held on a little tighter knowing full well that I would miss the fullness of today if I was trying to enter tomorrow too early.

You moved slowly and deliberately in my life and in my all-important relationship. You sanded down the edges. You carved new dimension in our lives. You spoke healing words. You gave new challenges. You drew away false gods and images replacing them with your own self. You breathed in new air, taking away the stale, stagnant breath from long ago. You opened the windows to our hearts and let the light permeate the odds and ends of darkness that lived powerfully in our midst. And you let us hear the song of those whose rest is already won.

As the dreadful and cursed death of Friday gave way to the brightness of new life on Easter morning truly a resurrection occurred in our life together.

No one possesses
transforming power
like you,
Wondrous God.
Your promise
to be
with us always
is not only
a daily promise;
it is
a constant reality.
As we
allow you
to move
in our lives,
miracles do occur.
We are changed.
Our wounds
are healed.
Our hearts
are reopened.
Our souls
are cleansed.
Our joy
is made full.

Love always, Andrea