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Message from Nancy Ingelson

What Shall We Do with this Easter News?

By Nancy Ingelson

Several days ago, while driving on Lindsay Park’s north side, I caught a quick glimpse of a bald eagle. Now this is by no means noteworthy or unusual. They’ve been thick this winter along River Drive. But this time I said to myself, “This is my last eagle sighting for the season.” Even if winter-like weather lingers a bit longer, the eagles seem to know when it’s time to move on. I’ll miss seeing them perched high in the trees, only to dive into what seems like solid ice, landing with total command wherever they darn well please.

Despite the shoveling, the scraping, the dry skin, the gray skies, the falls (yep, I joined the “fallen fellowship” when I bit the dust a few weeks ago getting out of my car), the power outages, and cancelled events, there are things about winter I’ll miss.

I like the coziness of the fireplace, the low whirr of the furnace, the pewter earth dotted with the color of a cardinal. I’m comforted by the softness of an afghan crocheted by a friend and that morning cup of coffee warms in a special way.

Goodness knows how much this winter has given us to commiserate over. There’s always something to say about it and this has a way of connecting us in our comings and goings, slippings and slidings!

But alas! Easter has burst into our lives! Not much outside to indicate this is true, yet we trust that it’s here because we have heard the Good News — Christ is risen!! Cold and gray as it is outdoors, Christ has risen indeed. As Lenten as it looks on the outside, our thoughtful walk to the Cross continues on beneath an eclipse, past an empty tomb, on to a resurrected Lord — and, whether we’re ready or not — NEW LIFE.

Whatever a greening earth tempts you to do right now, let it be secondary to your response to this truth. Christ is risen, death has lost its grip on our lives, and God waits with wonder and hope to see what we will do with this news.

Will Easter be simply our synonym for spring or will it capture us as if for the first time with its power, its grace, and its goodness? How shall we surprise God this year? Before we do the dance of joy out of winter into spring, let us kneel before this steady God of every season who longs for our love and gifts us with new starts.

As we make the soil ready for seeds, let’s work loose the clumps in those relationships that haven’t grown in a while. When we touch the ones we love with new acts of kindness, let’s remember God’s love for us and those who suffer each day. Let’s breathe deeply of warm fresh air, and exhale thanks to the Spirit who gives it.

You get the picture. Life everlasting yet always new — God’s amazing grace — a risen Lord — Easter. For you and me. What shall we say and do about it?

Nancy Ingelson,

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