Easter Dreams

Pastor and author Leonard Sweet writes about how Easter gives us the ability to see the world differently. Easter gives us a new vision for an old and broken world. And most importantly, it gives us the power to live into that vision. He writes, “The resurrection means that Christians can expectantly:

– dream of abundance even in the midst of poverty;
– dream of compassion even in the midst of divisiveness;
– dream of justice even in the midst of inequity;
– dream of holiness even in the midst of hell;
– dream of love even in the midst of hate.

I like his use of the word dream. It reminds me that our hearts and minds and energy follow our dreams. If we have no dreams, our lives become dull. If our dreams are self-centered, then our lives become small and skewed. However, if our dreams are infused with the power and promise of Easter… that God can and does turn hatred to love, despair to hope and death to life, if that is the base-line of our vision, then our lives become rich with meaning and hope, and everything becomes possible.

Last year, I asked my congregation to share their Easter dreams. Let me share just a few of these with you

My Easter dreams is:

– That my family would continue their journey of faith even after I have passed onto eternal life.
– That we would find a way to wipe out systemic poverty and racism.
– That God would heal my children from the pain they carry with them in their hearts.
– That our nation would be healed from hatred… That we would experience revival.
– That world leaders everywhere would lead in protecting and preserving our planet.
– That I would practice humility in all things and that God would remove any pride that gets in the way.
– I dream of Peace! Peace! Peace! Inner peace and peace among all people.

Those are some pretty bold dreams! But then again, Easter is a pretty bold claim. Easter is a promise that the Power that raised Jesus from the dead – is still at work in you and in the church and in the world. Thanks be to God!

Let us pray: God of new and abundant life, may the power of the Risen Christ work in us and through us, to bring about our Easter dreams. It is in his name we pray. Amen.