Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
GREETINGS IN THESE 50 DAYS OF RESURRECTION REJOICING!
How can we help but wonder what God is up to as we keep looking at death or our dead ends with hope for new life in this season of resurrection? I hope you will keep looking. As I look, I am surprised where I see signs of death and resurrection.
I read an article about some good news for newborn babies and their parents with a possible discovery of the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Dr. Carmel Harrington, a sleep expert whose son died of SIDS has spent the last 30 years searching and exploring this terrifying disorder that took the life of her son in 1991. They have discovered a biochemical marker that could help detect babies more at risk for SIDS. Public health campaigns have helped to dramatically decline the incidence of SIDS and yet it remains the major cause of sudden and unexpected infant deaths in western countries contributing to almost 50% of post-neonatal deaths.
This mother looked long and hard at a terrible death and was part of the effort to bring new life with possible intervention and answers for parents who have lost their babies to this syndrome as she says, “These families can now live with the knowledge that this was not their fault.” Not 30 years ago but about 22 and 24 years ago, I remember well watching my babies sleep, watching for that rhythmic breath with prayers for them as simple as “now I lay them down to sleep, I pray dear Lord their souls to keep, keep them safe all through the night and wake them with the morning light.”
Digging through my purse in search of something, my Epiphany word fell out among the mix. The slip of paper revealed the word, “Determination.” A good word for the Easter season as I look at death and hope for resurrection. Determination is what I heard in the mother’s story. Determination is what I hear in the stories in the book of Acts this Easter season. Determination is God’s word as well. God is determined to love this world and all its peoples. Through death and resurrection, God’s love springs forth in the most surprising ways and places. God is determined. I see it throughout the biblical story, and I see it in my own life and over the years and in this community of faith and the world God created.
Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing matters, especially the little things, the mundane, repetitive, daily kind of activities. They seem at times a dead end that goes nowhere but faith, trust and determination have me look again and new life springs forth. Where have you seen death and resurrection lately?
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
