Resurrection Stories
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“Our memory of Jesus’ resurrection fails us if we understand it only as a miracle. Jesus’ resurrection was indeed a miracle; however, it needs to be more than a miracle. It needs to be normal … every day … how we live and breathe: with resurrection power.”—Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE, from “Brother, Give Us a Word,” a daily email sent to friends and followers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE.org).
This is at the heart of spiritual direction, encouraging spiritual friends to see daily and yearly resurrections in their lives amid the daily Good Fridays that present themselves. It often takes more than three days to become aware of these resurrections. However, as we become more conscious of them, we become more open to trust and a little more patient, trusting that there will be a resurrection from each new darkness we face.
My experience is that I most often draw closer to God and spend more time with God in the darkness. On the dark Good Fridays of my life, I learn about surrender, “re-turning” my life and my will over to God. We learn to look for a tiny light in the darkness to lead us through it to a new, resurrected life.
A close family member or friend dies. We learn about the sacredness of life and spend more time living in the present with gratitude for each day. We learn to honor and be grateful for our relationship by extending to others the love and kindness we knew in that relationship.
Our children act out. We recognize our role in it and try to change our relationship with them.
Our job becomes increasingly difficult. But then we finally leave it, or maybe even get fired. After much time, we find a job that is our bliss.
A medical illness slows us down. We seek a more meaningful life by living at a slower pace, a day at a time.
We are caught in our addiction and lose our job. We change our whole lifestyle and outlook to live without the addiction.
Someone has harmed us mentally, physically, or spiritually. Over time, we realize that unless we can forgive and move on, that person continues to hurt us. We then slowly learn to practice daily forgiveness for the small hurts we feel each day.
Miracles become ordinary. We see God at work in our lives. Resurrection.
A gift of the past pandemic was slowing down our lives and living in the present moment. Slowing down is one of the best ways to see ordinary miracles. This is resurrection.
Today, our prayers are also for those whose lives cannot slow down, especially our healthcare workers and first responders.
Joanna joannaseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/