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Maybe it was the girl from Hooters that I ran in to at GoodYear while waiting for my oil change.
Or maybe it was the footage I saw tonight of the underground child sex trade in Cambodia.
But something got me thinking about Easter, new life and what that all means. I mean, a Jewish rabbi died on a cross 2000 years ago and I honor him by hiding overcooked eggs and eating ham? Wait a minute; I think there’s much more to the story!
Now don’t get me wrong, I love hardboiled eggs and especially those really cool PAAS decorating kits. Not to mention that I do enjoy a good ham sandwich (just put a little Swiss and some Grey Poupon on that sucker and it’s sooo good). Anyway… my point is that I think there’s more to Easter than all that.
I happen to believe that Easter has less to do with egg hunts, ham and a big restaurant brunch and much more to do with praying for a girl working in a shady situation or looking at how I can be a voice of justice on a global level to people in desperate need of God.
Remember the last words Jesus said to us before he left? The Matthew 28 deal where he said to go into all the world and preach the gospel? Or how about Acts 1:8 where he says we’ll receive the power of His spirit to be His witnesses starting from where we’re at and going out into all the world?
All this has just been a reminder that there’s more to the world than me and having it my way. Yet I still have a crucial role to play in this story we call life.
I once heard a tale of a man who played his cello in a foxhole in the middle of the Bosnian war . . . as if to affront all the senseless violence with an unexplainable sense of beauty, wonder and awe.
I think that’s what Easter is about… and that’s what I want my life to be.
Beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, peace for despair.
I want to celebrate the resurrection life of Christ by opening my eyes to what’s really going on in the world and to live boldly and beautifully. To make a difference because one cold cup of water really does matter. To invest my talents, whether I have one or five, and not bury them.
Jesus rose and lives today so that we can too. Not only so we can live, but so we can give that life away. Whether it’s next door or across the ocean, “Lord let us shine brightly and boldly for you. As we enjoy a good meal with family or friends this Easter, help us see a new way to let you live through us every day.” Amen.
Voices piece by Kristen D'Arpa
contact the author at kdarpa@whchurch.org | 
