Pastoral Ponderings- InBEEtween
I think it would be very helpful if Easter had something to go with it along the lines of the 12 Days of Christmas. For probably 25 years, the 12 Days of Christmas between Christmas and Jan. 6, Epiphany, has helped me and son Kristopher to more smoothly deal with the transition from the celebrations leading up to the holiday, and getting back into ordinary time. I need something like that for Easter too!
The time after Easter is a powerful reminder that we’re living in an “inbetween” time—between Jesus’ initial victory over death and offer of resurrection transformation power two millennia ago, and Jesus’ final victory, somewhere, somewhen in the future. And we’re all stuck somewhere in the middle, where the mundane realities, losses and struggles so often distract us from the Peace that Passes All Understanding.
Some churches spend a lot of time and energy focusing on what that inbetween time might means—with studies on “the last days” and such. We United Methodists typically don’t, though—because even Jesus said “not even the Son of Man knows” any details or timelines. And in a very real sense, what difference does it make? Shouldn’t we “be ready” and live right anyway, no matter when or what may come?
Karol found some cute décor last year to go along with my bees (that, yes, along with countless other hives these days, have died out this past year…)—to include such a simple reminder, that no matter what, to “bee kind” is always the right answer! So, in our “inBEEtween times,” that bee wisdom is a great reminder of what God calls us to BEE, no matter what we are inBEEtween, or how long it takes.
Finding the nectar that brings out life’s sweetness—Pastor Jim