I’d like to weigh in on the conflicted feelings many families are experiencing this week. I mean after a long winter of routine, some sort of break, any sort of break; just not having to go from 6:30 in the morning until 8:00 or later at night three or four nights a week is a welcomed break. When it comes to scheduling…Easter is the day that keeps changing. Easter can be any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. And yet, we know when Easter is every year, and I’m just assuming if you are still reading this that you believe there is significance to Holy Week. So what is a family to do?
We all make and live with our choices. Sometimes one choice excludes another and we live with missing out. Then there are times when we are forced to choose between two very good things. Being with your family on spring break is a very good thing. Attending a special service (or two or three) during Holy Week is also a very good thing. Sometimes it is just hard to choose and we are conflicted. And so we live questioning or sometimes continuing to struggle even as we are doing one thing or the other.
I want to encourage you to recognize not only what you are choosing but why and then to live with your choice. Completely ignoring that it is Holy Week, the week Christians across the planet are recognizing the last week of Jesus life and his resurrection simply because you have other plans for the weekend is not exactly a faithful response. Putting off your family time because you feel obligated to recognize Holy Week, may not be the best…may not even be the God focused choice, given that you have no control over the scheduling of either of these two weeks and your family is absolutely desperate for a time together.
As we all make our choices about Holy Week/Spring Break may the God who came to this world to both endure conflicted schedules and provide for the renewal of our souls be with all of you.
Have a great spring break and a blessed Holy Week.
Keep the Faith!
Pastor Dan