Happy Easter!

The trees are pushing out their leaves, early plants are blooming, the mower is serviced, farmers are gearing up to plant corn, spring is here. With spring comes Easter and we are so thankful that things are more normal than they were last Easter. We had two services at church today to help with social distancing and both services were well attended.

We decided to celebrate Easter within our family this year with a Seder meal. This was the fourth time we've done this; twice at church about 15 years ago, once here at home in 2015, and now this year. It's probably laughable at what we really don't know about doing this. There were several things we knew were wrong. First of all, we did not have our meal on Passover itself but on the evening before Easter so that everyone could be here. Then we couldn't find any matzah and had to make our own with the flour we had on hand; definitely not kosher for Passover. And with nowhere to find the shank bone of a lamb a drumstick from a rotisserie chicken had to do. I suppose someone could be critical of all this, but all inexperience aside, each time I've partaken in a Seder I have found that it enriches the meaning of Easter and the ordinance our church calls Communion greatly, and I can't help but feel that my King is pleased with the effort, no matter how feeble it may be. I know that traditions change and evolve over the years, but there are elements of the Seder that have been practiced for centuries and are clearly evident when reading the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. What happened that night with the events that followed—the crucifixion and resurrection—revolutionized the Disciples' understanding of what the Messiah had come to do. Experiencing this meal also helps me set aside what I think Jesus' mission is and focus more on what he said his mission was about; something much more universal in scope, not focused on me.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate this season. This "we" included Nolan, of course, but also a new face at the table. In the last few months Ben has struck up a conversation with a high school classmate, Mei Lin, whom he went with to the senior prom with a couple of years ago. Mei Lin is a student at Samford University now so it isn't so easy for them to see each other. From what I hear it is a good thing that nation-wide local calling is a standard of cell phone plans. Mei Lin was home at the end of February so Ben decided to come in as well. When he told her he was coming in that weekend she asked what was bringing him home. He simply said, "To see you."

Mei Lin's mom teaches Pre-K at DA. I ran into her in the hall a few weeks ago and she said, "Is your son trying to steal my daughter?" To which I could only say, "I think so." This weekend the two of them have spent a lot of time together. Ben presented her with an orchid Friday and asked if she would be interested in dating. From the smile on his face I'd say she was interested.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate the season and the reason we have this season. What a way for someone to be introduced to a family. Here we are, a bunch of Baptists and Nazarenes who really don't have a clue how to do what we're doing but trying our best to honor our King, even if it is a departure from how we normally do that. I have found a lot of humor with how all this has come together this year, yet I am humbly grateful for the people who are becoming part of my children's lives.

I'll close wishing you a happy Easter. No matter where you are or what you're dealing with in life, it is good to stop and celebrate the fact that death has been defeated and the King reigns.

Joe