Resurrection is in the air

Here's a column I wrote for the Augusta Chronicle. It ran on Saturday, April 3 -- the day before Easter Sunday:

A few mornings ago, I looked out a rear window of my house and spotted a squirrel leaping from tree to tree, staging a solo trapeze act. He was celebrating, flying from limb to limb as though something truly exciting were happening in his little squirrel life.

Next door, my neighbor's dogwoods are blooming. On the ground in my backyard, cardinals and mockingbirds are hopping around. Clearly, nature is proclaiming a season of resurrection -- of rebirth.

My Jewish friends were celebrating Passover this past week, with plenty of good food, fellowship and laughter. One friend, who is male and doesn't normally cook, is still talking about the soup he prepared for Monday evening's Seder -- and about the brave souls who were willing to try it.

Around the world, small groups of family and friends sat together and retold the beautiful Passover story -- of how the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob delivered his people out of bondage in Egypt. At its heart, it is a resurrection story.

It is no accident that Passover and Easter fall at about the same time. Christian Scripture records that Jesus visited Jerusalem during the final week of his life to celebrate Passover with his friends. While he was there, he ran afoul of the local Chamber of Commerce and the preacher's guild, and they arranged to have him killed.

Further, Christians believe that after Jesus' execution on the Friday afternoon during Passover week, he was raised from the dead early the following Sunday morning.

As a Christian pastor, I hope you believe the story. If you do not, then let us come together where we are able. Let us focus on the one clear and undeniable thing on which we can agree: We are in a season of resurrection, you and I. To see it, all you need to do is look out your window.

Let us come to a table together and celebrate it, each in our own way.