Preparing for Easter

This is the big week, the week leading up to Easter. Its a time of year that is busy and always has me asking where the time has gone.

This year is no different but the ways that I have spent my time in preparing have changed. Since starting with DICP I have planned creative ways to engage the children of the worship community. This week is no exception, we planed to "Prepare for Easter" by coloring eggs, talking about the Son of God and many crafts to help welcome in the good news.

At Central, the church I'm attending, I prepared to teach a class for the Sr. Highs again "Preparing for Easter." I spent about an hour and a half looking at the stories leading up to Easter and reflecting on the different services that go along with them. I focused on the amazing gift God gave and it struck me how amazing it really is but it also made me sad. I started thinking about why the story had to unfold the way it did, why the the only way for it to end with the good news meant the suffering of our savior.

As I was preparing and thinking I started to think about the world we live in today. Has it really changed? What is it that we respond to in this world, hurt destruction, devastation? Why don't we get the same response from the acts of kindness? All of these things seem to sneak up on us because they are easier to keep on the back burner.

I forget sometimes how different my life here is and how what I see and who I serve on a daily basis is not the norm for many within our country let alone our communities. As the end of my YAV year drawers closer I know that part of my challenge is to continue to remember and pass along the stories I have been a part of.

Maundy Thursday has always been one of my favorite services, maybe because its easier for me to relate to the pain and suffering, maybe its because so many of us walk around with pieces of that in our heart. It allows me to connect to the great gift we have been given by knowing that it wasn't given easily. By being able to recognize that and holding that knowledge in my heart and mind I carry it with me where ever I go.

The story of Easter is one of celebration and joy, but that celebration and joy all came for a price and that