After Easter Recovery

Well technically for a pastor Easter isn’t quite over yet.  I will be busy until about the end of April until things really start slowing down.  But for most of the people in the country, Easter is done and over and all we are left with is a bunch of empty plastic eggshells.  The candy that was inside of them… gone.  And there is something called the after Easter depression.  Sometimes we can feel like those leftovers, forgotten, empty plastic shells. 
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We spent so much time preparing everything for Easter.  Maybe some of us had family coming over, and had to prepare a lot of food, or maybe you all have a lot of activities at church that needed time and attention.  We prepared ourselves well, by preparing nice clothing for yourself and your family on Easter day… and now… it is all over.  Easter has passed.

And initially we sigh, and say thank God, this si all over.  But after the down time of relaxing and getting rest.  We are left looking around wondering, now what?  What are supposed to do now? 

Make you wonder if this is how the disciples might be feeling after Jesus has died on the cross.  The disciples scattered, abandoned each other, and went into hiding.  It was even after some time that some disciples heard of Jesus’ resurrection… but well... word travelled slower back then, without Instagram, social media, or even internet. 

But this is the problem every year we face.  That is the after Easter woes.  But it doesn’t have to be like that.  What we felt on Easter Day, that Resurrection Day should be a feeling that continues after Easter.  Christ is Risen!  Right?  Then why the after Easter depression? 

Well, maybe it’s because everything that we expected for Easter has happened.  All the time and effort for what we expect on Easter is now finished.  And nobody ever prepared any of us to tell us what we are supposed to do after Easter.  There is no Easter after party, or nothing else “important” after Easter.  It just feels over with. 

But there is still more to do.  It is about renewal and living.  Easter represents for us a resurrected life.  So, we need to continue the mission that Christ set for us… well actually, that Christ is already one step, or several steps in front of us.  The Gospel of John retells the resurrection story of Christ has already left he tomb and is ahead of anyone that came to see him at the tomb.  Christ is gone as fast as Easter began. 

So, why are we still at the tomb?!  What are we waiting for?  Jesus isn’t there anymore!  So, we better get moving!  Jesus is already walking ahead of us, in front of us, showing us the way.  Easter is over and done, the tomb is empty, but living does not end.  The resurrection story continues.  So don’t be stuck on Easter, be alive, and live a life that is worthy of resurrection.  Make things happen.  Keep moving.  Be resilient.  Be courageous.  

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