The Easter Epistles
Looking back at the last 5 years; a story of God’s grace and goodness.
As I sit in my sparkly new Cape Town flat, I’ve been reflecting recently on what the last few Easters have looked like for me. For the last five years I have celebrated the holiday in different cities, countries and even continents. The location, language and landscape might have been changing, but the message of Easter never did. Each year, God taught me something new, reminding me of his grace and goodness.
In times of change, God remains rigid
Jump back with me to the Easter of 2018. I was in my Honours year of University and wrapping up a four-year stint in Cape Town. Waking up at the crack of dawn we yawned in denial. The Sunrise Service from Rhodes Memorial is a family tradition, one that has us contemplating just why we voluntarily do it each year! Freezing cold from the icy South-Easter, we found a spot on the stony steps. The wake up may be brutal, but it is always worth it. The sky explodes into colour, the brass band launching into “He Is Risen” the second the first sliver of sun peeks over the horizon. Enthralled by the beauty I still struggled to focus or be present, my mind darting to other things. My post-university future was looming and my mind was plagued by what would come next. Thoughts of work, travel or further study bounced around my mind. My situation would soon be changing drastically, but that Easter I was reminded that God never changes. As sure as the sun rising again each morning, is the certainty of his steadfastness.
In different countries & contexts, God is relevant
The Easter of 2019 I was living alone on Mfangano Island, a tiny piece of land in the middle of Lake Victoria (which sits between Kenya and Uganda). Volunteering at the local church outreach project I had been helping learners with their English. The Easter service was simply magnificent; like something I had never seen before. The singing, dancing and coordinated outfits left me in awe. New traditions I had never seen before gave new meaning to the old holiday. The Easter message was made real for the place we were in and the people who needed to hear it. In big cities, or tiny island villages, God remains relevant!
In lonely and isolating times, God is right there
The Easter of 2020 had me attempting to stay positive through COVID-19 lockdowns. Trapped in Russia during a teaching job I was juggling working online with navigating the newness of a global pandemic. With Ana (my fantastic Brazilian friend) for company we did it all. We baked bread and learnt TikTok dances and Zoom-ed anyone and everyone who would answer. It was fun at first, but soon the loneliness crept in. I was as far away from home as I could be, and I felt it. The isolation reminded me of the isolation Jesus must have felt during crucifixion. The night before he was taken away, no-one was with him, his disciples unable to even stay awake. I thought of Jesus on the cross. How lonely that must have been, fully cut off from the father. While Jesus actually was alone, I could rest in the assurance that we are never alone, God is always with us.
In family and community, God is made real
Last Easter (2021) I was helping run a church Easter Party in my little hometown of Mtunzini. Moving back home after two years of living abroad was challenging and I felt like I was moving backwards, I felt stuck. Without the excitement of a big city, or the freedom to go and be where I pleased I was feeling frustrated and disheartened. But being surrounded by my big and booming family, and the sort of church community that people long for, I was reminded of the relevance of the Easter story. Going back to my hometown and old church also helped me to go back to the basics of the Easter story and its true message. God was made real in the actions and living testimonies of the people around me.
In a season of newness, God is redemptive
This Easter was a rush, a happy blur of colour and cousins. Family, food and much festivity. Seeing some family again for the first time since pre-COVID we hugged hoping never again to be apart for so long. But though the family was so familiar, my recent move to Cape Town at the start of this year had kick started a season of newness. A new job, new car, new flat, new city. It was the fifth year of starting over again. All these new situations and circumstances showed me that God’s grace in making things new is apparent. Regardless of what we’ve done, where we’ve come from or who we are, God redeems the old and makes it new. This season of change reminded me that God renews.
The last 5 Easters have looked so remarkably different for me. But the goodness of God and the story of the cross has never altered. Holidays have the potential to be lonely experiences that leave you missing the ones you long to celebrate with. If my 5 Easters past have taught me anything, it is only to remind me that God doesn’t change. The story of Easter and the gift of grace that we get to receive is a story that transcends time and context. Jesus death on the cross was for all people, for all time.
So whatever your Easter looked like this year, be it a happy blur or a quieter calm, I hope you can remember the never changing gift of Jesus, and a God who is rigid, relevant, right here, real and redemptive.
