The Thursday night before Easter weekend was an especially meaningful and moving experience for me. Our church held a "pray through the night" event. I signed up for a time to go and pray from 1:00am to about 1:30am (since I'm usually a night owl). When I arrived there were a couple of the men from the church keeping watch through the night. They let me in as another man was finishing his prayer time and leaving. The foyer was set up with about ten or so small cloth covered tables each with a scripture reading that took you through all of the events in the last days of Jesus' life; his last night praying in the garden, all the way through each part of the crucifixion and the resurrection.
After the scriptures were suggestions for prayer and reflection. At each table were items that represented these different events including a very real crown of thorns and cross. The church was dimly lit and quietly reverent. Candles filled the sanctuary. As I walked down the aisle to the front there were places to sit or kneel to pray over our church and our community. And then there was a place to take communion. It was a night I will not forget. Quiet time reflecting on our Savior's love and sacrifice and all that Easter weekend means in the scope of our eternal futures. It is something to be shared with anyone and everyone who will receive such an incredible gift.
Saturday morning we went to a great big Easter egg hunt at the high school practice field. Two churches joined together and there were thousands of colorful eggs scattered all over the expansive grassy area. The kids filled their baskets to overflowing! They had their names in a drawing to win stuffed animals, got their faces painted, had cookies and candy and played with friends.....even though it was muddy from the nighttime rain it was still an "eggselent event"!
Later Saturday night Todd and Shayna and mom got to come to our house to dye eggs.
And let me just say that coloring and decorating eggs can be addictive!
My heart was sad that we didn't get to do a big family gathering this year due to crazy thunderstorm weather, extremely busy work schedules, and you know just the random busyness of life that makes schedules not quite match up so easily. But my heart was happy because I know our family loves one another whether we are physically together or apart. I know God is at work in our hearts and he is revealing himself and his love in little personal ways each day. He is drawing us to himself, calling us to rest in his peace, let the things of this world go..... and follow him.
No comments:
Post a Comment