Lolloping through Easter

Dear Friends in Christ -

I have a deep longing for perfection. I love hospital corners and clothes that drape just right and having the kitchen counters cleaned off each day. With the celebration of the Resurrection and Easter talk about possibility and new things, I always secretly hope that the path to all good and right and lovely things will be made easier and smoother.

But here we are almost two dozen days into the 50 days of Easter, and my bed's not made and my closet is full of things that fit better last year and the counters are cluttered. And you know what? I'm happy. I have everything I need and a few of the things that I want. My life if FULL of meaning and delight - even without magazine-photo perfection.

Happiness doesn't come easy to me. I've always been a little afraid of how quickly happiness can change. Danger encroaches. Suffering breaks through. It can feel crushing to be reveling in great glory and then run smack into great pain that pops out from around a blind corner. In addition, the old German Calvinist theology of the church I grew up in said that I should be constantly mindful of my own sin and willing to carry my share of the burden of the suffering in the world.

Not only all that, but I've also found that folks can be suspicious of happiness. "Isn't it inconsiderate to be 'that' happy if people are waiting for replies to their emails and things are left ragged or undone?" "Can we have confidence that we're together in the struggles if some of us are 'flying high' while others hurt or mourn?"

As I move deeper in relationship with Jesus, though, I'm learning that I can risk being happy, throwing myself into the goodnesses of life. Sure, bad stuff will continue to happen in my life and in the lives of those around me and in the world. But the reason that Jesus could bear our sins and suffering was that he had some perspective on the whole situation. Jesus lived with both feet firmly planted on earth, but an ear always cocked to hear the Father's voice reminding him that good always comes, suffering is temporary, evil never triumphs because God's love holds sway over all.

Deep truths like these may sound like platitudes, but they're really the bedrock under our feet, solidly supporting us as we lollop happily through fields of life springing up fresh, again.

Blessings,
Janet+