They stood in groups of three or four

and some all by their lonesome

waiting for the opportunity to share a

story of

being the foster parent

the medical provider

the caseworker

the immigrant

or the husband to the wife

whose daughter was abused.

Some fought back tears

others anger

Many were shaken

troubled deeply by the recognition

of just how awful humans can be to one another

It would be easy for all of us to despair

To hole up within our homes

and ourselves

To give up hope

and to cry out: Where forth art thou, God?

But then the next morning, as I drove east

I passed through a forest

so enchanted

I pulled the car off to the side of the snaking road

and got out to take these photos for you

I know that I can’t begin to capture

the height or breadth

or the luminosity of these trees

as the morning light transformed each lichen-robed limb into a florescent glow stick

People stopped to offer me help but I waved them on. Thank you, thank you, I said.

But, really, truly, I am fine. Just marveling, that’s all.

Marveling at Creation and the Creator behind it all

And remembering how proud he was of his creation.

It is good, he said. It is good.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how very pleased God was in the beginning

But it only takes a moment, standing under the old growth in the morning light to remember

the hope of Easter

That even in the midst of much suffering

and darkness

Hope roots itself deep

within us

And all we have to do is reach for the light above

Happy Easter, friends.

Thank you for the multitude of ways in which you live out the resurrection & hope of Christ

It’s simply breathtaking at times

seeing how strong and luminous you can be.

Psalms One

¹ Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.