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Dear Friends, In spite of the freezing cold there are signs of spring all around. The grass is frosted but the daffodils, in front of the Rectory, are well out. But over this spring there hangs a shadow of which none of use can be unaware. Let us hope and pray that the situation will be brought under control. Sorrow and joy; hope and despair; lightness and darkness, these are all part of the human experience. Easter, which will be shortly upon us, is full of such contracts. The awfulness of Good Friday is mirrored in all corners of the world. People are tortured and ill-used, to a greater or lesser extent, in all countries, both by officialdom and other citizens. Good Friday is so called because it is indeed 'Good'. Without it there would have been no Resurrection, no demonstration of the ultimate lengths the love of God was prepared to go for our salvation; yet we do no one any favours by pretending it was not also dreadful. People are not helped in their suffering by being glibly told to cheer up and not worry. The Resurrection comes and brings into the bad times meaning and transformation. But it is a process, sometimes a long one: an experience. Resurrection faith is not reached without facing the horror of the cross and the dull, waiting time of the Saturday before Easter Day, when all seemed meaningless and hopeless. Resurrection faith is not a frothy state of happiness when all is going well but a deep-seated trust, that, no matter what, God is faithful. In the good times and the bad he is there. In whatever your circumstances, happy or sad, may you know the love of God with you this Easter. Janice |