Easter was a very complicated and multi-layered holiday for me this year.  There is a reason for this complication.  This year three important events took place for me.  The obvious is it is the day that the Christian church celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Another, a few years ago my  mom died rather unexpectantly.  Lastly, it is the day my beautiful daughter was born.

A death, a birth and a resurrection.  Wow!  One, I still grieve over…the loss.  I still miss my mom like her passing happened yesterday.  She was such a humble and devoted lover of her husband and her sons. The second, I wept and still weep over, only with sheer joy.  Being a father of such a remarkable young woman is one of the greatest wonders and privileges this life has offered.  The last, Christ’s resurrection, I celebrate its reality and hunger for its fulfillment in me.  I literally quaked yesterday as I heard the story once again told of the Christ event, culminating with his grand rising from the grave. As Russ Davis proclaimed yesterday at our community gathering, it literally changes everything!  I couldn’t agree more!

What an emotionally bewildering…and anticipatory day!