GREETINGS HOLY PEOPLE OF GOD,
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen because Jesus lives. I hope you are sharing your stories of resurrection, of looking in the empty tomb and then turning to see new life again in these 50 days of Easter.
With this cold, wet and windy Spring meeting tropical tempts overnight, flowers and blooming trees are just popping. We can almost see new life spring forth. The colors of spring are so beautiful. God is such an amazing artist with all the shades of green leaping forth sprinkled with whites and various shades of reds, pinks and purples. The earth proclaims resurrection. Keep looking and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see. We know the disciples had a hard time recognizing the risen Christ at first. Jesus can be mysterious in revealing himself.
For Mother’s Day, I received a book, “The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England’s Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus.” by Andrew Klavan. He was baptized into Christ Jesus late in life- in his 50s. It is delightful to read of the excitement of his newly discovered faith and it breathes new life into my own faith journey.
Klavan speaks of his deepened relationship with God augmenting his clumsy talent for living. Being more Christ-like has transformed him into a more peaceful monster finding joy in little things and being alive to life in the moment and twice alive to the people and things he loves, like family and friends and books. Each time he reached a little deeper understanding of some passage in the gospels and attune his mind more to Christ, it was like swallowing a spoonful of crazy happy sauce. His joy increased.
He is driven to know Jesus more and taught himself koine Greek using all the tools of technology we have at our access these days. I am impressed by his drive and determination, and I am looking forward to the read ahead of me. His newfound joy in Christ breathes fresh air into what I too often take for granted and gives me pause to look again and find the joy and delight in life with Jesus and Christian community.
Christ is risen! I wonder and I see new and exciting things and life is so good because Jesus lives.
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
