Sunshine in My Soul

FROM THE APRIL NEWSLETTER OF PORTAGE FIRST UMC:

Thank God for the sunshine! It's been a long, hard winter here in Northwest Indiana...longer than any I can remember for quite some time. Now, as I write these words, the sunlight is shining in through my window, and even though it's still cold outside, it doesn't feel as cold because the sun is shining. I'm so thankful for the sunshine!

There's an old gospel hymn that celebrates sunshine—and the light of the world!

There is sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky

For Jesus is my light.

I imagine those hours between the death of Jesus and Sunday morning we long, incredibly long, for his friends and followers. All through the darkness of two nights they waited, and it was, most likely, the hardest and longest wait they had ever endured. They weren't waiting for resurrection, by the way. They were waiting until they could finish the burial and be done with all the horrible events that happened on Calvary. And then, in the bleak semi-darkness of early dawn, the women went to the tomb...only to find sunshine, light, and hope! The tomb was empty, and Jesus was risen! The joy they felt was so much larger than the joy I feel when I see the sunshine today. If Jesus was risen, then no darkness would ever triumph again. Every darkness, even the darkness of death, would be swallowed up by the resurrection.

Yes, I'm glad to see the sunshine coming through my window, but I'm even gladder to have the light of Christ shining in my life. I sometimes stumble over my own shadows, but his light leads me on. Because of his resurrection, I can get back up and walk on. Because of his resurrection, Jesus is forever the light of my world and the hope of all in the world.

May you experience the light of the resurrection this Easter season. I'll see you at Portage First for our journey to the cross...and to the Empty Tomb!