Happy Easter!
Perhaps it is the effect of the (very) warm weather we are experiencing, but the first week of Eastertide – the period between Easter Sunday and Ascension Day – is feeling particularly festive to me this year. I hope the same is true for you as well.
As you know, during our Lenten preparation for Easter, we often focus particularly on spiritual practices such as fasting, praying, and meditating on scripture. With the arrival of the Paschal Feast, we may have been particularly eager to give up any fasting practice we took on! And we may have quickly let go of any other Lenten disciplines we practiced as well. And this is as it should be – the cycle of fasting and feasting is integral to the practice of our faith. The disciplines we take on during times of preparation set us up to enjoy periods of feasting that much more!
Perhaps this year, though, you might consider doing something special to enhance your relationship with God during Eastertide as well. I would recommend anything that brings you joy and connects you more fully to the divine. It might be as simple as a regular walk in the park, soaking up the beauty of creation. Or singing some favorite Easter hymns. Or spending time with friends enjoying your favorite foods.
Whatever you choose, may you feel the presence of God with you, drawing you more and more into the blessings of new life!
