From Between Cross & Resurrection by Alan E. Lewis
Today's piece is from the beginning of a section that moves into the arena of Easter - the day of the resurrection. Here is how Lewis makes the transition to that day from the darkness of the grave on Saturday.
For all we knew the drama had run its course and reached its tragic denouement - the inaction on the stage indicating not that we should wait expectantly for more, but that the play was ended: it was time to go home.
Yet suddenly the curtain rises and the lights come up again; the brightness dazzles eyes grown accustomed to the dark, making it impossible to see and understand exactly what is happening, yet revealing enough to let us know that a new act is taking place, incredible and stunning in its contrast to all that went before.
We all have those moments in our lives when we think or say out loud, "Let's wait to see if it changes." Like the weather on the day of picnic. There are showers and the sky looks dark....but...it may break and the day may be saved! That was not what it was like between the grave of Easter Saturday and the day of Resurrection. No one expected...even considered...something more. It was over. And yet, it isn't. At concerts, we often applaud and once...maybe twice...on a rare day three times...the band will come back on stage. The day of the resurrection is as though the concert ends...we leave the theater...we go to a bar for a drink and some discussion and the band we paid big bucks to see on stage...is seated at the table next to us...and they are invited to come up front and play a few songs...and they do. The promise we are left with after Easter is the fact that our God will overcome all things in order to demonstrate God's love for us...even when we don't think there is any possibility at all.
Connection: Hope is an odd thing. We cannot see what will come...yet we hope. Against all available information we are called to expect life embraced by God.
Lord of all time, continue to break into our day and lift us up to see the infinite possibilities of life wrapped up in your promises. Keep us mindful of the fact that we can never know how the day will go and yet we can be assured that you will be - in some shape and form - available to us. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment