Come with me to the sea and forest for a virtual sunrise service!

What lessons do Easter and Passover have to teach us about living through the losses experienced during a Pandemic?

Each of these celebrations is based on a promise: a promise that there is hope and light in the dark. When people experience loss there is a time of shock and disbelief and a feeling that life is standing still. It is in those times of not knowing what will help us feel better that we have to dig deep into our inner belief that someday we WILL feel better. It’s believing the dark will pass even though we don’t know when or how.

For the Jews who sacrificed and believed that the plagues would Pass- over it was a time of blindness, reaching in the dark- for the Christians who watched their Messiah crucified it was also a time of darkness and not knowing.

Both religious narratives end with a message of hope that in the midst of that unknowing some miracle was taking place that would result in a new beginning, new life and starting over.

The message for me is clearly that both of these stories teach us to believe that good will come, light in the dark, if we hold on until it is revealed. Like the Jews who remained in their homes for the plague to Passover so too must Christians do the same. Our Jewish brothers and sisters have offered us this lesson and i prayerfully hope people listen and stay home allowing the virus to pass.

Easter is not about gathering in person ... Easter is about allowing the light to once again shine in the dark and knowing when it is time- the light will once again shine!

This quote from Camus has special meaning at this time, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger--something better, pushing right back."

This Easter of all Easters may not be the easiest, you may be sharing your love digitally but find it and share with all. Find the light!