Don’t just stop and smell the lilies, plant some seeds!
As Easter is fast approaching, I find myself scrambling to get it all together--my check list is lengthy and my stress levels are rising! I try to do a good job of balancing the Easter baskets and bunnies with the empty tomb, but could I be missing the point? After reading a blog post by Jen Hatmaker, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am. In Jen’s post titled “The Easter Conundrum: Part 1,” she talks about how her church had a different approach to Easter. She writes:
Who in Austin might want to celebrate the astonishing hope of resurrected Jesus, but might feel uncomfortable surrounded by beautiful people dressed to the nines? Who needs the gospel spoken into their brokenness, but might not be welcomed by the saints in the sanctuaries? It came quickly to us:
The homeless.
What I love about what their church did is that they went to where the people are, instead of trying to draw them in. It reminds me of my friend Cary and how she collected and delivered bras to homeless women (for more on that project, check out her blog post).
That’s what I want Easter to be about for my family. Going out to where the needs are and meeting them in their space, their element…going out into the world and planting seeds. Instead of trying to bring them to a place where they may feel uncomfortable, step out of our own comfort zone. After all, it’s probably what Jesus would do.
--Melissa