In the Christian faith, Easter is celebrated as a time to recall the moment when Jesus Christ miraculously rose from the dead after being brutally crucified on a cross. He died amongst violence and humiliation. His death, though horrifically dramatic, was not His end, but the rather the apex of His legacy to His supporters then, and all who have vowed to follow Him since. Christians believe that because He chose to accept that death, the door to eternal life has been unlocked and made accessible to all those who wish to enter.
We are welcomed into this Easter season as the frigid winter temperatures become more temperate and new sprigs of greenery and blossoms dot the landscapes. The barren and bleak skies slowly start to house rays of sunshine and sweet melodies of birds that have been vacationing on other locales over the past several months. Tentatively at first, but then with rapid fire succession, spring ushers in NEW LIFE.
Whether one aligns their belief with Christianity or not, the notion that rebirth can occur after death, is the very hope that comes from spring; an annual reminder from a season that just when you believe that the cold darkness is a forever reality, a glimmer of light can break way and spark new and beautiful growth. The lesson in the Resurrection and the new life of spring reaches far beyond the death of Jesus and the sprouting tulips that replace the frost covered ground. We should be reminded that personal resurrection can and will occur in our own lives should we allow ourselves to be made better from the brokenness of life, rather than be destroyed by it.
From the time we draw our very first breaths, we are set on a journey of life and learning that will see us die and hopefully be resurrected a multitude of times. The idea of dying a thousand deaths certainly does not seem appealing to any of us, but it is what we gain from those deaths that is the blessing of personal resurrection and new growth. Rebuilding and renewing, just as the Phoenix rises from the ash, is how one finds strength and beauty deep within, in a place that could never had been uncovered without tragedy and heartache. It is through this suffering that we can be made more whole.
As we travel the winding, bumpy road that is our life's journey, we will surely encounter detours that at times may feel like roadblocks that will stop us from moving forward. These unexpected, unwelcome setbacks may come in the form of personal illness, the death of a loved one, financial hardship or the end of a love that was meant to last forever. Being faced with such devastating trauma feels like the death of a soul, and can lead one to question how they could possibly continue the journey. With such devastating derailments to our reality, these changes can lead to having to say goodbye to the person we once were. A choice is to be made, just as Christ had a choice. Do we choose to accept the cross? Do we choose to ride again?
Accepting the death of a life that once was, is not a given nor is it a comfortable process to undertake, but it is in that bold acceptance where personal resurrection begins to take root. Allowing ourselves to be transformed out of the darkness to a place of light is removing the stone from our tomb and rising up. We certainly cannot always control our circumstances, yet learning to recognize our hardships as opportunities to grow and renew means that no suffering is in vain, and perhaps, in time, we even find thanksgiving in the challenge.
When trudging along in the midst of winter, it is impossible to imagine that one day soon, in the not so distant future, delicate daffodils will become plentiful in our sight. As the seasons change, the new growth begins to take beautiful hold. A blossoming of all that we could not fathom before, becomes commonplace and expected. Our scenery is new and fresh, as is our outlook. As are WE.
In this Easter season, may the cross serve as a poignant reminder to us all, not only of the death Jesus Christ so willingly accepted so that we might have eternal life, but also as a symbol to ourselves of our own day to day struggles and heartbreaks, and the resurrection of spirit that will explode in vibrant blossoms at the change of the season.
