For those of us in the Salt Lake Valley, it's been a long, hard winter. Yes, I lived in Montana for seven years, where winters could be even more challenging, but in my 12 years here in Utah, I've never experienced such relentless cold or never-ending snow. Every time we dared to think "Maybe this is the last big storm," another arrived. As recently as last week, we had over foot of new snowfall, closing our local school district yet again and triggering my driving anxiety. Yet again!
But this Easter morn, the Son shone brightly!
Guys! It is such a beautiful day! As I walked into church, wearing a short-sleeved dress and no coat, I couldn't help think about the first Easter morn, when after three days of what must have been crippling grief, Jesus's followers awoke to a beautiful day. Their Lord had risen, culminating the most miraculous event in human history, and the most impactful. The Son shone brightly that Easter morn.
....as it does today. For us! Easter reminds us that hope is ours for the asking. It is freely given, and received by anyone who desires it.
Even after the snowiest winter, because of the Son, the sun will shine again.
Through the most tumultuous storms, whether literal or figurative, because of the Son, calm will come.
They say time heals all wounds, but that is not true. Jesus heals all wounds. Absolutely all of them.
Not that I'm wishing time away, because I'm definitely not. I actually find myself regularly wishing time would slow down. But I do look forward with excitement to the end of this year when we get to study the extremely cool book: The Revelation of St. John the Divine, which includes one of my most favorite references:
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it" (Revelation 21:23-24).
You know, had Easter come any earlier this year, we would have had some snowy Easter egg hunts. And that would have been just fine too because, as the above scripture promises, we have no need of the sun to lighten our lives, if we invite the Son to do so.
Still, I like to think God looked down upon all of us here in the valley, and with infinite grace, sent us spring, just in time for Easter.
The Son shone brightly this Easter morn!
I am grateful.
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