Traveling

Nantucket lighthouse

The end of things is never easy. This past week, I enjoyed several days away on the island of Nantucket. I found rest in biking around the sunny island, putting my bare feet in warm sand, spending time with friends, and reading silly and serious books. I relished the days away, and found myself longing to stretch them out.

Yet, they did come to an end, and I have come back to the reality of my everyday responsibilities. I looked forward to my time in Nantucket and I had an amazing time while I was there. After all the anticipation of going and the delight of being there, I found it sad to leave.

I think my journey to Nantucket has, in a small way, mirrored my experience of Easter this year. I spent much of this Lenten season reflecting on the cross, and why it matters to me and to a broken world. I reflected on the benefits offered to us because Christ “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing.” I looked forward to resurrection day and Jesus’ victory over death. And then, on Easter morning, I rejoiced to say “He is risen indeed.” I celebrated in church, feasted with friends, and remembered that death is not the end of the story.

And now I find myself, on the rainy Tuesday after Easter, feeling like the celebration long anticipated is over. Like remembering the resurrection was a pause in normal life, but now I have to get back to back to my everyday responsibilities.

I don’t really think that is the best way to mark Easter.  Though in some ways Easter is the end of somethings, much more it reveals the beginning of things, of all things being made new. 

One of the books I was reading last week suggested that in the same way we consider giving something up for lent, we should consider adding something to our lives for the days following Easter. It said that life viewed in light of the resurrection should be marked by more prayer and more parties. Prayer that longs to draw near to the Father and see His kingdom coming, and parties that celebrate places where tastes of his kingdom are already here. 

So, I guess that’s all the encouragement I need to take more trips to Nantucket, or enjoy more celebrations with friends, or to look for opportunities on rainy, responsible Tuesdays to live in the hope of the resurrection.