Bunny Says Go!!!

We emerged from the car in a sea of families, and began making our way toward the Easter egg hunt. As we made our way to the section, I ate in all the enthusiasm of the people around and anticipation of the coming dash. Would Aurora be one of those kids that eagerly collected the eggs, or would she sit down with one and begin asking to have a candy treat opened ( I decided that we would be in for some good collecting as long as they were mysterious, colorful, oval balls, but it would be game over if she knew it was candy)? We found our section and joined the line of toddlers looking to break free from parents to start the game. I smiled as I looked out on the sea of plastic eggs. Perfect! This was going to be so fun!

The time ticked by slowly, and the expectancy continued to build as we waited for the large costumed bunny to lower his paw at the end of the countdown. Occasionally a toddler would manage to break free and joyously rush the eggs before being scooped back up by a laughing parent. Finally the moment arrived that parents and toddlers alike had been waiting for…

3!!!!!!!!!

2!!!!!!!!

1!!!!!!!!!

Bunny says go!!!

Out we all ran or toddled, and Aurora began meticulously picking up the eggs and putting them in a basket. She acted just like herself in situations like this. She went straight to business and picked up eggs like a little machine without cracking a smile. I tell you, as goofy as my daughter is, she is all business when she is on a mission! 

I am pretty sure the ones and two’s age group has got to be the most fun. With all the Easter egg hunts I remember as a kid, it always felt like it was over in 3 minutes or less. And vicious! With this age group, it was just pure fun. The collection was slow enough that the eggs lasted a long time, and because of watchful parents making sure everyone was nice to each other, I saw no tears the whole time. The Easter hunt was far from the most meaningful part of the Easter season for me, but it was such a fun memory! Glad she will just fit into the age group again next year, and this time, I am going to totally remember to bring the camera out of my car!!! 😉

As funny as it sounds, that wiggling, excited throng of people surrounding the field of Easter eggs reminds me a little bit of how I felt about Easter in general this year. I think part of it was being intentional through teaching a Good Friday/Easter message to our Wednesday night kids, and then that attitude of awe of the love of Christ just lingering throughout the rest of the week. I ate up all the different gospel accounts of Jesus’ last hours and longed to feel some of the emotion of those rich moments with our Savior. This year, I didn’t want to rush past the sadness of Good Friday. I wanted to feel some of the weight of it so I could more fully enjoy the thrill of the resurrection. 

And isn’t a thrill?! This passage is a favorite of mine and was talked about in our Sunday service some too. Read it with fresh eyes…

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep….

 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man,the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.“( 1 Corinthians 15: 2-6, 17-22, NIV)

Isn’t this the greatest???!!! The resurrection means everything! Without it all who die are lost, Jesus was just a nice man, we have no forgiveness for sins and Christians are to be pitied for our narrow-minded foolishness. Everything rests on the resurrection!

But Christ.

He did rise from the dead! Historical documents and apologetic logic agree with Biblical accounts (for more research check out…http://www.xenos.org/essays/case-christs-resurrection) and give the intellectual confidence that our minds search for. His resurrection gives hope for all that He said and promised. Our Savior lives and because of this, we have hope that there is life beyond this one. He conquered sin and death and invites us to share in his victory if we only have faith in Him. And the beauty is that the best is still yet to come! It is as though all who await the return of the risen Savior are straining at the ropes in anticipation of incomprehensible joys.

Think of it! To see the return of our Jesus in the clouds calling us home! To see the great plan of God unfold in the final moments of this world! To experience the joys of heaven! And most thrilling…to walk side by side with our Savior and truly KNOW Him! This is all seen as naive, foolish Christian dreaming to those who are still blinded by the deceiver of this world, but to us, it is the greatest hope and joy conceivable. Nothing is better. Nothing.