As I sat and pondered what to write about it was a beautiful sun-drenched spring morning. Although the temperature might be a little on the chilly side, the smell of spring is in the air. You can feel the warmth of the sun and just know warmer days are right around the corner. It’s such a special time of year when God’s green earth comes back to life.
Holy Week is upon us beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter. The religious details of this week are much better left up to Pastor Tim or the leader of your congregation. It is truly a remarkable story of how God so loved the world, He gave His only son Jesus so mortal man could be forgiven of sin and have an opportunity for
eternal life. As a father, the week prior to Jesus’ resurrection is the most difficult to imagine. God looking down knowing what was about to happen and watching Jesus endure the brutality that would continue even after His crucifixion. Although God and Jesus knew the plan, it is still difficult for me as a father, to wrap my head around it. The pain, suffering, and betrayal is unimaginable, even though they both knew the outcome.
As for Jesus Christ, His son, talk about having faith in your Father. Yes, He may have eventually accepted it, which is made clear through the Last Supper. However, the excruciating pain and brutality was also a known reality.
The love and grace our God and Jesus have for us should never be doubted. If doubt enters your mind just reflect back to the events of Holy Week and the resurrection and Jesus and his eventual ascension into Heaven. As Mother Earth comes back to life, it represents a great time for us to be reborn in Jesus’ name.
Please enjoy all the Easter traditions of your family. Most importantly make sure your children understand God’s plan. The Easter egg hunts, and Easter Bunny should be enjoyed and are special times in a child’s life. However, often in today’s world, they become blurred together, both needing explanation — thus where Pastor Tim, or the Christian leader of your choosing may come in.
Make sure you enjoy getting the family together for that special Easter dinner. As I have learned over the years, there will come a day when some of the seats become empty. You will hopefully have wonderful memories of those who left before you. You really never give much thought to these things when you’re young. But this day does come. What a testimonial for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and also a test of one’s faith.
Now back to what to write about. As most of you know, I enjoy a great April Fool. You’re now probably thinking about that shark in the Susquehanna or the drilling for natural gas at White Deer Golf Course. Maybe the elephants and Clyde Peeling come to mind. These past April Follies are available on our website for those wanting a good laugh. However, with everything going on in today’s world and Easter falling just before April 1st I just didn’t feel right coming up with a story about a Sasquatch being seen atop Bald Eagle Mountain or pirate gold being found in the Susquehanna River. Although I might sneak something in at a later date, when you’re not expecting it.
As I look around the world we’re blessed with, I don’t think I remember a more unstable time during my life. My heart and prayers go out to all those that lost a loved one as a result of senseless violence. As always, I pray for the innocent and all those fighting for good. Please understand, even if you are not Christian, my prayers are for peace, understanding, and ones love of their fellow man. Happy Easter to you and your family.
God Bless America.
