Steven Charleston: Maybe Next Easter
“I looked and saw a nurse, dressed all in white, standing by a bed in the improvised ICU. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” she asked, and then she pulled back the curtain to reveal an empty bed. In my confusion, I turned and walked outside, leaving the hospital as if it were a tomb, and went into the streets. There were hundreds of people there, people laughing and talking, people strolling hand in hand, children playing in the parks, people hugging one another as they met on busy sidewalks. The shops were full. The streets were full. The city was overflowing with the sounds of life, joyous and unending beneath a clear and sunny sky. I stood transfixed. Then I remembered: it was Easter Day!” —Steven Charleston Facebook Page, Easter 2020
Easter Parade. New York City
Just in case you did not see Bishop Charleston’s Facebook page last Easter, here it is! He is telling us what the resurrection of our state, our country, and our world will look like. He constantly reminds us to look fear in the eye. He is reminding us what hope looks like. Reread the resurrection stories of Jesus. So many say, “Fear not. Do not be afraid; Peace be with you.”
I think in this pandemic, Jesus would also tell us to take care of ourselves and others by washing our hands, social distancing, getting vaccines, wearing a mask, and avoiding crowds. Trusting is not just going to meet danger unprepared. Like David slaying Goliath, we must take the tools we know best to slay the virus. David’s ammunition was a slingshot. All of our weapons involve changing our social and hygienic behavior towards the enemy.
Not being afraid means knowing that God is right beside us and caring about us. But I think God also wants us to be prepared with all the tools God has given us against any danger such as this virus. God walks beside us today so that we again someday in the future can join the Easter Parade into our streets, into our shops, into our workplace, and our churches.
My Granddaughter Zoe and I watched the movie Easter Parade on Holy Saturday. We needed something to remind ourselves of what life was like before. But at the same time, we also know we have learned tools in this pandemic that we must continue to use so that our future will remain brighter.
During this pause, we have an opportunity to learn about being kinder to our bodies, kinder to each other, kinder to our souls, kinder to the planet.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com