Broken things have been on my mind lately because too much has broken this year in the lives of the people I love—hearts, health, confidence. Beside this personal brokenness, I’ve noticed all sorts of really dumb things breaking lately, too. I’ve had a dozen calls from friends reporting broken cars, water heaters, a window, even Patti’s finger.The Dalai Lama told his followers that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born – and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible.
That first Easter morning everything was breaking in the life of those who loved Jesus. All the disciples saw when they got to the tomb was two piles of old clothes. No one can say what happened IN the tomb because no one was there. There were no witnesses. It was between Jesus and God. Jesus was not there. The risen one had people to see and things to do.
Did you notice that every time he came to his friends they became stronger, wiser, kinder, bolder. Every time he came to them, they became more like him. And that’s what the resurrection is about—it’s not about what happened in the tomb—that was entirely between Jesus and God.
The resurrection is about us. It’s about what the appearance of the risen Christ points to. It is so much more than a leap of faith to belief. It’s about learning to practice resurrection. It’s about learning to live. We all have Easter moments daily if we just look around.
However, if it seems like to you that more things are breaking than being resurrected in your life then start looking for that big, lovely thing in your life that is about to be born. We journey through life, wounded at times. Resurrection is when we do not stop living because we are wounded. We move through the pain, with the wounds, into new life, scars and all.
Where’s my resurrection, God? You ask. My holy week has been way too long. Where’s the resurrection? In the end, that is the only evidence we have to offer those who ask us, how we can possibly believe. Because we have found, to our surprise, that we are not alone. Because we never know where Christ will turn up next. Where’s our resurrection? It’s here, now, whenever you encounter the risen, living Christ in loving relationships with one another.
I believe there are hundreds of Easter moments in our everyday life —signs of the promises of Easter. Sure, life is far from perfect—but life is good, life is beautiful. Resurrection is happening all around us if we have “eyes to see and ears to hear,” even when bleakness stands very close.
God prays for us as we reflect on the resurrection: “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who practice the resurrection every day by reaching out to others. Thank you for nudging us to bring your life to those who feel like life is breaking apart. Never get so focused on the empty tomb that you forget to speak to the gardener…. or a lonely person, or that person standing in line to get food at the food bank, or a child—you may encounter the risen, living Christ in them and they may encounter the risen, living Christ in you. That’s where resurrection is today. In us.
