Okay, I might have made this one up. Not the substance, but the title.
This one will be brief, because I’m already running late on this post today!
I want you to reflect on this quote from Frederick Buechner:
Here’s what this quote leads me to do in terms of spiritual practices, and it stems from an exercise that my mom passed down to me from her father. Ask yourself in a given situation, “what’s the worst that can happen?” I’ll give you some context. If I was stressed about school, or anxious about a relationship, or whatever else that teenage Drew was dealing with, my mom would ask that question. Once I had thought through that – even if that worst thing is really bad – it becomes more manageable in your mind and you can prepare for those scenarios.
So, as we celebrate resurrection, perhaps one way to do that we can do is meditate on what is going wrong; to think about what the worst thing is, and then bring that worst thing into this quote.
“Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.”
Resurrection means the coronavirus is never the last thing.
Resurrection means losing my job is never the last thing.
Resurrection means heartbreak is never the last thing.
Resurrection means this injury or that illness is never the last thing.
Resurrection means death is never the last thing.
Resurrection means life is the last thing.
This practice does not take away from the weight or pain of the “worst thing,” but it takes away its power because its power rests in the lie that it is final. Death has lost its sting. Every tear will be wiped away. No more mourning or illness.
Resurrection is final. Death is not.
And once you’ve meditated on that, find a way to celebrate it. Go hug a loved one. Call a friend. Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Sing a joyful song. Celebrate resurrection.
Happy Easter.
Pastor Drew's Desk 