Just a small celebration to the fact that my Lord and Savior (Saviour – I’m about to move to Canada) Jesus Christ is alive!! Hallelujah!
So normally at home, we wake up, have a nice breakfast and compare Easter baskets…trade candy…the likes, but normally Mom is pretty good at nailing what we like. We get dressed in our new springtime dresses or suits and head off to church. There are tons of lilies and other springtime flowers around even if it is still likely to snow…stupid Rochester weather…we sing the Hallelujah chorus (I cause those around me to go a little deaf with my affinity for the high notes) and we have the call and response of He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. After a celebratory service we all return home and eat ham…some sort of symbol to the fact that we’re not bound under Jewish law and custom…ergo let’s eat pig and celebrate the Messiah has come! It’s a time to call family, celebrate spring, thanking God for his promises and redemption!
Now this morning at church, first off it’s not in English, and none of our typical Easter choruses were sung, definitely no Hallelujah chorus (although I am playing it on iTunes right now…), no epic Easter hats, cute spring dresses, new white shoes…and most of all, no feast. Who knew that being offered a packet of ramen noodles on Easter Sunday would be so devastating.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that all of these things that we’ve made Easter about aren’t necessarily celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord…but it just doesn’t really feel like Easter. And I’m pretty sure that it was the ramen that sent me over the edge…
But, I am alive, I am forgiven, I am redeemed because Jesus died and he rose again. That is what today is celebrating. That’s what I am celebrating. I may not be eating a delicious ham (which I don’t particularly even like…) and potato feast…I may not have a sweet hat, or get to sing the Hallelujah chorus, or worship in English…but it doesn’t change what today is about. I am blessed beyond belief with the beautiful views of the mountains of Northern Thailand right outside my window, the smell of fresh flowers, the sound of little girls singing and giggling and running around…it’s too beautiful. Even if lunch was nothing more than a reminder of college.
