Easter’s message promises life after death. Loss of life is the entryway to the blessing of new life, and so we consider death as part of the process God offers in the assuring reality of resurrection. The miracle of this gift comforts us when we encounter death.
But what if you and I are not yet dead? Holding on to something only resembling life, and hoping for new life? Yearning for normal living that seems nearly impossible? In those situations, perhaps the best we might hope for is repair—the methodical restoration of our lives.
Those of us who have faced any kind of disasters understand that new life doesn’t happen right away. The darkness of loss doesn’t disburse quickly. Whatever has been completely damaged needs to be removed. If it’s redeemable, we need it to be fixed. It it’s irredeemable, we need it to be replaced. Gradually–like a slow-motion resurrection—restoration eventually brings new life.
Repair is possible because of the painstaking work of people, individually and collectively. Think of Jerusalem when the captives returned from Babylon; Europe after World War II; any community overcome by any natural (or unnatural) disaster or refugees who reconstruct their lives in a new place.
At this time in history, the need for repair is enormous. The cruel scourge of invading armies has leveled entire countries around the world. Global warming has increased the number and intensity of disasters. Addiction, chronic illness and broken relationships have visited us like invisible plagues.
The opportunity to be repairers—those who bring resurrection—is before us. All around us are refreshing prospects for being God’s restoring hands and feet in times of great need. Ourselves rescued from death—by God’s grace—we join together in the holy work of repair.
And with it, resurrection….!
(To receive these entries when they are posted, go to the upper right hand corner of the top banner and click on the three dots or parallel lines. Scroll down to the subscription form and enter your information.)
