April 10, 2012 ~ The Third Day of Eastertide

 
Beloved ~

“If the Lord had not been on our side . . .

all sorts of terribleness which befell us would have destroyed us.  

We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s trap.”

~ Psalm 124 (my paraphrase)


    Now then, every dot and tittle of human life happen on the far side of this great escape.  The teeth and traps which once threatened are powerless against us - so long as we choose to live here in this present, far side of redemption.
    Hopefully the contentment and bliss which marked our Sunday’s Feast of Worship lingers in you as it does in me here on the third day after.  The room, the food, the music were beautiful.  Yet what persists most tangibly for me is the fellowship; the intimacy of our gathering, our appreciation for one another’s presence.  How great is my desire to stay here in body, mind and soul.  
    So, so easily can I slip into pre-escape ways of living in which I long, hope, pray for release and rescue from some anxiety or problem instead of remembering,  choosing to live mindful that I am already free and safe ~ here on that far side of Easter, resurrection day.   Free and safe, we have access to all the strength, grace, and peace needed to live with our problems without being ruled by them.   As your day proceeds, may you find yourselves again and again reminded, body, mind and soul, of the joy we share in the aftermath of Easter.  peace & prayers, ~ pastor annette