April 2008

Dear Friends,

I was reminded the other day of this story I got from The Joyful Noiseletter several years ago: A pastor was talking to a group of young people about the high costs of dying. “People today waste thousands of dollars on expensive coffins and monuments,” he said. “Jesus was so unconcerned by His death that He had to use a borrowed tomb.” A teenager raised her and said, “But Jesus only needed it for three days.”

As usual, the model of Jesus is a good one to follow. We all find ourselves struggling with burdens, downcast by clouds that come over our lives. So did Jesus. But he didn’t stay in the tomb, and neither should we! Okay, okay, a few days, three at the most, and then, we must say to ourselves, “it’s time for resurrection.” Years ago, before we knew so much about depression, and all the kids started taking Ritalin and their parents Prozac, there was something called Melancholy. Remember that? You didn’t have to go to a doctor for it, you went off to your Melancholy place, wrote a poem about death to honor your sadness, and then went back to living your life. It’s okay to be unhappy when unhappy things happen, or angry when unjust things happen; or hurt when hurtful things have been done. And we should honor and respect those emotions, for they help us to get through the hard times. But we shouldn’t stay in the tomb! If we do, we will miss the New Life that comes when we’ve worked through the storm.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Sometimes life hits us with challenges at a dizzyingly fast pace, and we can become overwhelmed. This is when the community of faith is at its best, reaching out to those who are in despair to offer experience, strength, and hope. When we know there are others who sympathize and will help, it’s easier for us to climb out of the tomb. Let us remember that as Christ’s body, the Church, we have promised to love our neighbor as ourselves, and rather than wait for an angel to roll the stone away from the tomb of someone who’s buried in misery, let us band together to do it ourselves. In fact, one of the surest ways out of our own tomb is to try to help someone else crawl toward the light.

Our Easter morning services were filled with people who were filled with faith and energy. Keep coming to church to be that energy of Love for others, and in doing so, you will find the resurrection you have been promised. Happy Easter!

Love and Light,

Martin

To read Martin's letters from past months, please click here.