Easter as a Verb

Easter as a noun gives images of bunnies, spring flowers, baskets filled with goodies, and Christian celebrations of the Lord's resurrection, but have you ever thought of easter as a verb? This thought came to me several years ago when I was reading Sue Monk Kidd's book, When the Heart Waits (chapter seven - Incubating the Darkness). 

Apparently, it's not a new idea. After some research I discovered that easter as a verb was used by a few others.

Frederick Buechner in his book, Telling the Truth, wrote, "Who can say when or how it will be that something easters up out of the dimness to remind us of a time before we were born and after we will die?"

And, near the end of a very long poem written "To the happy memory of five Franciscan Nuns exiles by the Falk Laws drowned between midnight and morning of Dec. 7th. 1875," poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote in The Wreck of the Deutschland, "Let him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us. . ."

We all love the hope of spring, especially those of us who live through the cold winter months. But, there would be no spring if there wasn't a winter. Seeds lie dormant in the ground. Buds have been waiting dormant all winter to begin their growth, blossoming from the warmth of the spring sun. To easter is to rise up out of the dimness of those things that are shaded or difficult to see due to darkness. It is out of darkness that eastering happens.

The world began in darkness until God spoke life and light into every galaxy. 

Spring breaks forth after the cold, gray days of winter.

Chicks hatch out of eggs incubated by the warmth of the mother hen. 

Plants shoot up from seeds germinated in fertile ground. 

Tulips (my favorite flower), daffodils, and crocuses announce the beginning of spring after bulbs lie in the dirt over the cold, winter months. 

Life gives birth after 39 weeks of darkness in the womb.

A butterfly slowly emerges after weeks of darkness inside a cocoon.

Spiritual renewal often comes after a dark night of the soul.

Jesus resurrected after three days in a cold, dark tomb. 

Eastering. The act of becoming new. The hope of what is to come. 

As Christians, we live in spiritual darkness until we recognize the light that Jesus offers in his death and resurrection. Then, we are born again, this time spiritually, transformed by the light of His salvation. A rebirth that comes from God. 

Easter is about new life. Transformation. 

 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:17

For in Him we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:28)

This Easter I celebrate the act of eastering. Christ easters in me. He makes me new. The hope of now, the hope of ever after. 

Stella Turns Five!

With Josh and Kari moving back to Pasadena, we made a spontaneous trip to CA for Stella's 5th birthday in February! Who could resist the sweet invitation we received in the mail from Stella?! Our grandchildren are growing up so fast! 

Kari and Stella prepared in advance to make a completely homemade birthday party. Paper chain links from old book pages decorated the trees, and paper balls from the same source spun in the breeze. Stella and I wrapped Christmas lights around the trunks and limbs of the trees, a magical ambience once the sun went down. The kids took turns walloping a paper maché ball hung from a tree limb, making a mad-dash for the candy once it broke out. Friends enjoyed homemade soups, popcorn, and cakes. And, Grandma bought pink tulips to add to the occasion. It was a fun, joy-filled weekend! Happy Birthday to our sweet Stella! 

The God Who Reveals

It was back in December that I met Kingsley, who along with Charles (my last post), attends the West Africa Theological Seminary in Nigeria. I loved meeting and interacting with these young leaders in the church. When they speak of their heart for God, and their vision for the church, their faces glow with passion. Their warm smiles light up when they share about their families (their wife and children could not attend the conference). You can tell they love to learn and desire to keep on growing as leaders. Their servant hearts display a desire to become more like Jesus. I was both inspired and energized by these men! 

Kingsley is from Cameroon, (also a West African country), but has planted a church in Nigeria under the Liberian District while he attends seminary. He received the honor of ordination during our time at the District Conference of The Wesleyan Church of Liberia. A very special moment in his call to ministry, and one that we were happy to be a part of! 

Charles (L) and Kingsley (R)

 

Kingsley's Ordination

One afternoon while on a break from meetings, I had a fascinating conversation with Kingsley. I asked him how his people respond when they hear the news of Jesus for the first time. 

He explained how his ancestors believed in a god­. They knew there had to be a creator of the rivers and the mountains, someone greater than themselves. But whoever this god was; he was unapproachable. 

If someone lived a long life and was a good person all their life, they would be recognized at their death as someone who could connect with God–an intermediary for god and man. A messenger of sorts. Kingsley explained that such a person was buried close to the village, out of the honor and respect given to a good, long life. The people didn't see their ancestor as god, but as one who could intercede for them and as one who could identify with their human needs. 

Kingsley went on to say how the story of Jesus begins to form a link. People begin to see that what they have been longing for has been provided through Jesus. His human existence without sin, his death, and his resurrection opened up the way for man to approach God. Jesus became the intermediary between God and man. He is the One who intercedes on our behalf. He is not dead, but living.  And, as One who was fully human and fully divine, he understands our needs. Kingsley described how the God who desires to make himself known, did so, so that we can approach Him as a God of love, and One who desires relationship with man, which he made possible through Jesus.  

When Kingsley was telling me this, my mind immediately thought of the following verses from Romans, chapter one. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

And this one from Romans 10 - And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

The God who reveals Himself . . .  an approachable God.