I've often wondered how Easter might be different in the southern hemisphere. In Australia right now, it is autumn. In the southern part of the continent, the leaves are dying on the trees, the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are dropping. Everyone is preparing for the long winter ahead. In the midst of the dying of the season, Christians are walking through Lent, towards Easter. Ahead lies the deepest part of winter...earth truly stands hard as iron, and the promise of resurrection is still months away.
Here, of course, is the opposite. Our Ash Wednesday service is often held while it is still snowy, and the days are windy and cold. But, by the time we reach Easter, spring is in full bloom. The days are longer, the air is warmer, and truly, we have survived another long winter. Resurrection surrounds us.
Of course, this points out that context matters. Where we stand makes a difference in how we perceive the Easter message. Sometimes, resurrection comes quickly, as it does here in the northern hemisphere. But sometimes, there is yet a long winter ahead before the sun once again rises higher in the sky each day. As a church family, we each stand in different places during this season. For some, the renewed vigor of the earth is symbolic of the new life within us. But for some, there is yet time needed. Resurrection will come, the sun will rise higher in the sky, but our souls must linger for a while in the close darkness of winter.
Each of us experiences resurrection in our own time. Don't hurry it, it will come. The sun will rise, the son will rise. All that is needed is patience.
Pastor Jim
Here, of course, is the opposite. Our Ash Wednesday service is often held while it is still snowy, and the days are windy and cold. But, by the time we reach Easter, spring is in full bloom. The days are longer, the air is warmer, and truly, we have survived another long winter. Resurrection surrounds us.
Of course, this points out that context matters. Where we stand makes a difference in how we perceive the Easter message. Sometimes, resurrection comes quickly, as it does here in the northern hemisphere. But sometimes, there is yet a long winter ahead before the sun once again rises higher in the sky each day. As a church family, we each stand in different places during this season. For some, the renewed vigor of the earth is symbolic of the new life within us. But for some, there is yet time needed. Resurrection will come, the sun will rise higher in the sky, but our souls must linger for a while in the close darkness of winter.
Each of us experiences resurrection in our own time. Don't hurry it, it will come. The sun will rise, the son will rise. All that is needed is patience.
Pastor Jim
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