Easter came early this year and occurred just when Spring arrived. For the first time in a long time, we experienced the joy of Easter just as Nature was waking up. On Easter morning, I was delighted to see a flock of geese flying in the sky on my way to church. For centuries, the returning geese have been a symbol of Easter and Eternal Life to my own Celtic people of Scotland.

Throughout the ages, the message and wonder of Easter has been carried in the hearts and minds of Christian people all over the world. It is a hope that has never been vanquished and a sacred blessing that has been passed on for many generations. In my twenty years as a pastor, I have been privileged to meet several Christian people in my life who have lived to be more than a hundred years old. Their faith has always been amazing and is probably a key ingredient to their longevity.

I remember one elderly lady, whose family had been fisher folk in the West of Scotland for centuries. She lived with her 75-year-old daughter, who treated her mother like a queen. Everyone in the village was in awe of her, and young children from the local school constantly came to talk to her about what life was like a century ago. She had the patience of a saint and it was remarkable to watch elementary kids sit at her feet, listening to her personal stories and wonderful tales.

Most of the conversations that she had were all about the past, and how the great moments in 20th century history had affected her. She could talk about Queen Victoria, both World Wars, and the Great Depression because she personally experienced them. It was amazing to think that in her remarkable life span she had read news reports of the Wright brothers beginning the age of flight, and then watched Neil Armstrong step onto the moon sixty-six years later.

One day, while making a pastoral house call, I asked her, “What does a person of your age and long years of experience look forward to?” She had, after all, seen and done everything as far as everyone else was concerned.

Her century old eyes sparkled and a beautiful smile lit up her aged, wrinkled face. She softly replied, "Next year's Easter daffodils." Even at the grand old age of 102, she still kept hope alive in her heart of once more seeing the coming of Spring, and delighting in the joy of Easter.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, this is Your sacred time of year when God’s peace is bestowed upon the earth through Your sacrifice, and the promises of everlasting life are initiated through Your glorious Resurrection. As we watch the earth awaken to life, may we be constantly reminded of Your gift of grace and renewal, hope and restoration. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Promise of Hope
By Amy Bremers

Do you have a favorite word? If you had to sum up who you are in one word, what would it be?

My word is “hope.” My college roommate said that the word “hope”described me, and since then I’ve always liked that word.

Hope means “to look forward to with confidence or expectation” or “a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.” To me it simply means “you know, you trust, you believe.”

In the last few years, hope has become even more important to me. My grandmother, whom I was very close to, died a month before my wedding. My ex-husband decided after a year and a half that he “just didn’t” want to be married any more. Because of that, I lost my wonderful stepdaughter. My favorite-ever pet rabbit died suddenly. I had five surgeries -one major surgery - in the past two and a half years. My newly hired boss at my previous company insulted and demeaned me.

How could someone without hope possibly bear such situations and occurrences?

Not surprisingly, two of my favorite Bible verses use the word” hope.”

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7 NIV)

Hope gives us courage to go on, even if it’s barely trudging on. Hope lets us see glimmers of possibilities amid suffocating darkness. Hope helps us believe that, yes, things will get better.

I couldn’t tell then, but now I can see…My grandma truly is in a happier place. I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with me. I have the ability to adopt, and I know that I will cherish the child God sends me. Room opened up in my house so that I could rescue another rabbit. My health is better, and I’m no longer scared of surgery. And best of all, I have a new job with better opportunities.

Whatever difficulties that you’re going through now; know, trust, believe and hope, that God will allow good to come of it. After all, soaring on wings like those of eagles, not remaining stuck in despair, is God’s promise to us.

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