By Rev. Janet Stobie
The Christian Easter story speaks of new life—love conquering death. In it we are told, “Go and tell.” Tell the world that new life has come.
Whether or not you are Christian, our Canadian society surrounds us with Easter and celebrations of new life. Chocolate and the Easter bunny often come first to a child’s mind when they are asked about Easter. Some will add eggs and baby chicks. Some of the older children will be able to say “new life.” As adults, we connect Easter with butterflies. We picture caterpillars trans-formed into fragile monarch butterflies, their wings quivering as they step into new life and fly away.
This year, as I listen to and watch the news, I find myself desperately wanting new life for our world. Can we ever have world peace? Will we ever stop destroying each other—and our planet? Is there any hope? Will we ever learn how to love one another? Will new life ever come?
HOPE? This year, there is news from my grandson in Thunder Bay. Our Myra has arrived. Seven pounds of beautiful new life. Her eyes open, her hands waving—wonder, joy, and challenge wrapped in such a tiny package.
With every new birth comes HOPE!
As you read this, I hope new life is beginning to appear all around you—buds opening on trees, spring flowers pushing their delicate heads up from the cold ground, the robins returning.
Last week, my eighty-eight-year-old friend called to tell me she is in the hospital. When I asked what happened, she told me this story: “I woke that morning feeling good. It wasn’t snowing. The roads and sidewalks were clear. Great, I thought, I’ll get some groceries. I was almost inside the store when … suddenly, I was lying on the sidewalk in severe pain. This wonderful young man—obviously an immigrant, at least he was brown and a stranger—stopped. ‘I’ll call an ambulance,’ he said, and knelt down beside me. Another man, a bit older, stopped as well, took off his warm winter coat, and wrapped it around me. They both waited with me for the ambulance. Carefully, gently, I was loaded onto the stretcher by the emergency workers. Since then, I’ve received such wonderful care. There are good people in this world.”
HOPE, of course, there is HOPE and LOVE.
We do care for one another. We see it in the kindness we give and receive every single day from family, friends, and strangers.
This tired, angry world can be transformed. Yes, it’s possible.
Today, I encourage you to look beyond the misery of the world news and toward the wonder of new life around you. Then, open your eyes to the compassion, kindness and goodness that does exist. When we look for it, we will see it and experience it.
And even more important, we can be the Hope and love that this world so desperately needs. You and I can teach love to those around us, one person at a time. You and I can be the butterfly, stepping out of our cocoons—our comfort zones—and reach out with love and compassion, like the two strangers who helped my friend.
We can take the risk: lending our coats, speaking and living words of hope, love, and caring.
One person at a time, we can transform this world. Easter will happen. Easter is already happening, each and every day.
For more reflections: http://www.janetstobie.com/