“God brings life out of death” This could be considered the very definition of what God does, or how the “Living God” is constantly in our midst. As we move into the Easter season, our Easter Sunday celebration of “The Resurrection” should help us recalibrate and deepen our awareness for noticing the ongoing pattern of resurrection unfolding for us every day.
There are many ways God brings new life out of brokenness and death. We see signs of resurrection in nature as springtime arrives with animals and plants returning to life after dormancy. We may notice a broken relationship being restored through forgiveness, this could be seen as a resurrection of connection. Resurrection in our souls can occur when we feel a sadness or a burden lifted and replaced by a sense of well-being, peace, or joy. As we recognize and reflect on moments of resurrection, we are noticing the unexpected emergence of new life and the mystery of God in the world, in our personal lives and the lives of others.
Resurrected Life Every Day
By Darlene Carlson
I believe that an Easter person walks in the newness of life, noticing resurrection in every step. I try to greet each new day the moment my feet hit the ground. Some days they are filled with excitement, sometimes trepidation, most days just achy and sore. With awareness and gratitude in my steps for a new day, I begin to see more daily resurrections. The more I look for resurrection, the more often I see it, and the more I can be present in it.
New Life in Big Moments
In the big moments, walking in the newness of life is often easily noticed. These are the times when we are stopped in our tracks, the obvious experiences we cannot miss. A gorgeous rainbow after the storm. A newborn baby. That look into the eyes of a loved one. Newness of life is also found in experiences of intense suffering, pain, even death. In those moments, we become intensely aware, and everything else falls away. We catch our breath – the breath of joy and the breath of sorrow – and are completely present. Resurrection is happening right then and there, before us and within us.
New Life in Small Moments
Finding resurrection in small everyday moments is not as conspicuous. When I rush through my day, I forget to notice newness of life in the typical, sometimes mundane parts of my daily routine. Finding resurrection takes so much more patience and focus; I have to slow down and take a long loving look. Sunshine of the new day as I drive to work. Birds chirping in the tree outside my window. The feel of water on my hands while doing dishes. Even in the little irritations of life, this too is new life, an opportunity to notice another way of responding before simply reacting. These smaller experiences are more frequent than those big life moments, yet resurrection is just as vibrant when I take time to become more aware.
The Sacrament of the Present Moment
Daily resurrections are ways to remember God is always with you in the sacrament of the present moment. For me, this can be a challenge since many times I look to the past and future, not what is arising in the now. It is essential to pause and notice.
The hope of daily resurrections is that it is never too late to begin again, to breathe in the sacredness of the now, whatever that may be. We can keep watch for the glimpses of new life in each moment, the big, small, and every breath in between. We are Easter people, sharing the journey and living in the hope of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every. Single. Day. May we rejoice as we walk in the newness of life. Alleluia.
Darlene Carlson, is a Spiritual Director and Retreat Facilitator in Roseville, CA
