A New Day Of Possibility

It’s no coincidence that Easter falls in the season of Spring; a time when the world awakens to new growth. The birds are rediscovering their songs, daffodils still us in awe, and plans are being made to prepare the fields for new crops that will nourish the world.

In the Christian tradition, Easter Sunday marks the glorious and ultimate manifestation of hope. However, the path towards such hope is not easy. Scriptural accounts connect the fanfare and parade of Palm Sunday with the unimaginable angst and loss of Good Friday. Many of us know the joy of grand celebration, and many of us know the sorrow of deep ache. No one ever expects or welcomes the devastating pivots in life. Yet here we are with Easter’s invitation to believe hope lives, even when the tomb feels empty.

All those years ago, I imagine those who discovered the empty tomb were overcome with confusion and cynicism. The feeling that a hard path in life yields emptiness is perhaps a sentiment many can relate to. The good news of today, however, is such emptiness is not the end of the story. Rather, Easter reminds us there’s always a path forward even when we can’t even imagine where that will lead.

I know many who are dedicated to their faith, and the trek of life is supported by convictions that are deeply grounded in their religious devotions. And then there are those not so sure about faith, or who have no faith, or whose faith just doesn’t make sense. Regardless of spiritual status, most people find themselves within that space where heartache threatens to hijack life. The bottom line is, we all need hope.

For those in doubt, just look outside your window. Trees are budding, color is sprouting from the reawakened dirt, and the glisten of the morning sun enlightens us to new shades of green. Nature reminds us of the power of transformation.

Challenging journeys alter us. We’re not the same person we were before the moment when everything changed. However, navigating adversity makes us realize we are stronger, richer in spirit, and appreciative of the good which helped us along the way. Eventually, we might even realize we aren’t as empty as we thought. Rather, we are filled with connection, compassion, and understanding. Lest we succumb to life’s despair in the nick of time, Easter reminds us of possibility.

Regardless of religious belief, Easter provides the opportunity for all of us to participate in a resurrection story. We can inspire ourselves to bring all our hard times to the till of our tired hearts. There, we can renew ourselves so that we can see anew, be anew, and love anew in this complicated and often difficult world. No one ever said Easter joy is easy, however, today offers an invitation for all of us to at least believe a new day has dawned.

Photo by Pisit Heng on Unsplash