Quarantine Easter
This Easter is memorable for all of us as it is the first one where instead of wearing our Easter bests, we donned our pajamas and watched the church service at our kitchen tables and instead of going to our family's for a meal, we just fit in a video call while eating cereal. (if you are anything like me)
The coronavirus has changed a lot about our daily lives. Every day has become Saturday as we no longer have friends to visits, restaurants to go to, or even a job to give us purpose. Every single aspect of our lives has changed as the virus has infected every country and every community. Being away from family on Easter Sunday isn't abnormal to me as I spent the past four years in the Dominican Republic, but this Easter was the first one spent on my own. It got me to thinking of how quickly the towers and walls of comfort we build for ourselves can crumble. I believe if the virus has taught me anything it is how fragile our world and everything in it truly is. It is like a great big Jenga game and if you pull or touch the wrong piece, the whole tower crumbles, there was only ever the illusion of strength and support.
Despite everything happening in our world, God has remained constant, unblemished by the coronavirus and still working behind scenes. As I reflected on Easter Sunday and the gift of the resurrection, I thought upon these three words, "want God more." There are a lot of things I want in this world and some of them are not even bad; healthy relationships, to make a difference in the lives of my students, financial stability, good health but I have realized that those are Jenga pieces. To put too much faith or stock in them is dangerous when I cannot control the outcome. This Easter and as we go forward I desire to "want God more". I want to want God more than I desire relaxation or comfort, than I desire praise, than I desire friends and family. I want to want God even more than I want a cure for a deadly virus. I often think of Luke when he writes, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life, such a person cannot be my disciple." (14:26) Jesus isn't really advising us to hate our family, but that our love for God should be so much that everything else appears like hate.
As our world slowly tries to piece itself back together and sweep up the mess of the virus, may the lessons we learned during this time not disappear. May we realize that everything here is fragile and temporary and may we not go back to the lie believing that we are capable of controlling the things around us, but fall at the feet of the One who is. May we want God more than anything.
More than Anything-Natalie Grant
The coronavirus has changed a lot about our daily lives. Every day has become Saturday as we no longer have friends to visits, restaurants to go to, or even a job to give us purpose. Every single aspect of our lives has changed as the virus has infected every country and every community. Being away from family on Easter Sunday isn't abnormal to me as I spent the past four years in the Dominican Republic, but this Easter was the first one spent on my own. It got me to thinking of how quickly the towers and walls of comfort we build for ourselves can crumble. I believe if the virus has taught me anything it is how fragile our world and everything in it truly is. It is like a great big Jenga game and if you pull or touch the wrong piece, the whole tower crumbles, there was only ever the illusion of strength and support.
Despite everything happening in our world, God has remained constant, unblemished by the coronavirus and still working behind scenes. As I reflected on Easter Sunday and the gift of the resurrection, I thought upon these three words, "want God more." There are a lot of things I want in this world and some of them are not even bad; healthy relationships, to make a difference in the lives of my students, financial stability, good health but I have realized that those are Jenga pieces. To put too much faith or stock in them is dangerous when I cannot control the outcome. This Easter and as we go forward I desire to "want God more". I want to want God more than I desire relaxation or comfort, than I desire praise, than I desire friends and family. I want to want God even more than I want a cure for a deadly virus. I often think of Luke when he writes, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life, such a person cannot be my disciple." (14:26) Jesus isn't really advising us to hate our family, but that our love for God should be so much that everything else appears like hate.
As our world slowly tries to piece itself back together and sweep up the mess of the virus, may the lessons we learned during this time not disappear. May we realize that everything here is fragile and temporary and may we not go back to the lie believing that we are capable of controlling the things around us, but fall at the feet of the One who is. May we want God more than anything.
More than Anything-Natalie Grant
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