Easter Reflections

 Christ is risen!

I am shortly heading off for a holiday in the Holy Land, but before I go I am trying to gather together my reflections on this Easter season. I enjoyed planning a Maundy Thursday communion service, and there is something very special about sharing communion around a table, a connection back to Christ and his disciples. Going up to Ruardean Hill Baptist church to join in their Good Friday service was also very special (due to other commitments I had to miss what I gather was a very good service of Meditation for Good Friday at our church). Then on Easter Day we had the joy of welcoming Beth our former minister back and those who were able shared a lunch with her afterwards. 

However, there were also moments of sadness. Derek, who was supposed to be leading our service, was not able to be with us due to his wife being taken ill shortly beforehand and our much loved secretary, John, was also not able to attend, due to his and his wife's continued ill health. We missed these special people very much, and it was so sad they could not share in our pleasure at seeing Beth again, and also share the joy that Easter brings.

Due to Derek's absence I was preaching, and my message was that we need to remember how shocking the resurrection actually was. And, when confronted with this risen Lord, what should our reaction be? Like the women who visited the tomb that first Easter (Matt 28: 1 - 10) we should worship, witness and follow.

 The weather over this Easter week has been very disappointing, however spring is certainly here in the Wye Valley. I was in Tintern on Monday and saw this beautiful cherry blossom there. The previous week in Monmouth I saw all the copper beeches coming into leaf and took the snapshot below. This sensation of new life is all around us, and fills my heart with hope and joy, and in awe at the wonderful works of the Creator of this beautiful world.

Walking through the mist

Today as I was out dog walking in the mist (it was mistier than this, and not frosty) I was thinking about how difficult it is to describe what my 'vision' is. Partly this is because I struggle to define myself as a 'leader', so I do not expect to need to have a vision except in terms of my personal walk with God. It also speaks of my awareness that, in my capacity as a leader, I can have all the plans in the world (and sometimes I do, too) but whether they come to fruition depends on whether they accord with God's will and whether the church feels they are feasible. Maybe also I worry that having a 'vision' is a bit too close to having a 'ministry' - it seems to be more about you defining what you are going to do than listening to what God tells you to do and doing it.
As my walk continued, my route took me over an open field, and I followed a faint but unmistakable track across the field, and suddenly I knew this was what I felt vision should be like. It was so misty I could not see the end of the track, but I could get to my destination by sticking to it. So as far as I am concerned, vision is seeing where God is going and following. You do not know what is coming up beyond the next few steps, but you know it will take you home. And I remembered a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King: 'Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.' Maybe vision is seeing that track in the grass, and realising God made it, then following behind.