Easter 2020-The Missing Puzzle Pieces

Easter Reflections 2020. This is my first Easter in 63 years where I gave no thought to “what I might wear for Easter service.” Not my focus, but always something to consider every year, having grown up when we wore white gloves, hats, frilly dresses, and patent leather shoes to church. What has come to my mind beyond the glorious He is Alive message which is the essence of our hope and faith is a verse from Hebrews 10:25 in the Message version: Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Everyone is thankful for the technology that allows us to still hear a message, great worship music, and The Word taught. But, I can’t wait for the other element of Sunday – seeing the faces of those who choose to get together once a week to encourage each other, that moment to pause and worship and learn. Because it’s not forbidden in our country, walking through a church door and taking a seat can be taken for granted. After all, it will always be there when we want it right? And we tend to want it less and less as a society. That’s where we are missing out. Life is enhanced, appreciated, and richer when we take that hour or two on a Sunday (or Saturday) to come together, pause, learn, and remember what’s important. Sure, we can skip it. Life still happens. The sun still rises and sets, but if this BIG PAUSE in our lives has taught us anything, it’s that we need each other in ways we didn’t even realize. Even more, we need to be together once a week to encourage, learn, laugh, cry, sing, pray, and love. My prayer is that when this is over, every church that celebrates the real meaning of Easter will be packed. It happened after 9/11, but then things went back to life as usual after a few weeks.

This is not to diss anyone who does or doesn’t go to church for your own reasons, but to encourage everyone to make a new commitment to go. It’s not about the best speaker, the best music, the prettiest people, the coolest church or the hypocrites in the next seat. It’s about The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, and the additional gift they gave us– one another with all our flaws. Imperfect people looking toward their perfect God for strength, peace, and direction.

Only you can bring all that you are to a service. You not being there means not only you miss out, but all others miss out on incredible you. Ever get to the end of a puzzle only to find one or two pieces are missing? It’s not quite complete, is it?

Happy Easter Blessings to all of you. May we never forget the lessons of this year.