Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all(?) my readers! There are some things which might just take you to church during the year, things like, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, Christmas and Easter. There are a lot who will go to worship as often as they can, but these are among the top 'attending' list.

The first three of these are ours, and the last two are God's. They belong to Him, and we are allowed to celebrate with heaven for them! Christenings and Christmas are very similar in that they both talk about new life, and new birth. These are occasions we enjoy and look forward to, for ourselves and for others too. Similarly, Funerals and Easter are alike, in that they both talk about death to us, although in the case of Christ, He didn't stay dead for long. He is Risen! Easter can be a reminder of the mortality of the human being, but also a great reminder that we will not stay dead for long either! This can be thought of as a dreaded fear, or a fearless stepping stone to a higher place, our Heaven.

But that leaves the Wedding out. Or does it? We will celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, the fundamental difference between Christianity and all other religions. The barrier of death has been broken... for US now! That takes the scary part out of the thought of dying, because we will live on again. That takes me neatly to the Wedding again. Easter is a reminder for me that I will meet and see again, some people who were very important in my life, and have now received their reward. It's going to be like a big, happy Wedding all over again, with celebrations the likes of which we have not imagined. Can you think of any greater happiness or pleasure than being able to see those special people again? They are not missing, just in a different place. As one inscription puts it, '..Waiting in God's big garden'. 

Easter should be celebrated on two levels. The church level as we remember Christ's resurrection, but also on a human level, the resurrection of our loved ones, the Wedding banquet they are having, and one which we will join! Humanly, none of us are in a rush to get the invitation to this particular Wedding, but isn't it good to know that your name is on the invite card, even if it isn't soon? Maybe it would be a good thing to practice celebrating now, while we are still here!