The View from the Vicarage - April 2009

It was obvious that eight-year-old Stephen’s mental retardation was becoming even more severe. His Sunday school teacher did her best to include Stephen in the classroom activities and to avoid situations which might prompt his classmates to make fun of him.

In April, she gave each of the eight children in the class an empty L’eggs pantyhose container (plastic egg) and instructed them to place inside the container an object that represented new life in spring. Fearing that Stephen might not have caught on, and not wanting to embarrass him, the teacher had the children place all the containers on the desk so that she could open them.

The first had a tiny flower in it. “What a lovely sign of new life,” said the teacher. One of the students couldn’t help but erupt, “I brought that one!”

Next came a rock. The teacher assumed this must be Stephen’s, since rocks don’t symbolize new life. But Billy shouted that his rock had moss on it, and moss represented new life. “Very good, Billy,” agreed the teacher.

A butterfly flew from the third container and another child bragged that her choice was the best of all.

The fourth container was empty. This must be Stephen’s, thought the teacher, quickly reaching for a different one.

“Teacher, please don’t skip mine,” interrupted Stephen.

“But it’s empty, Stephen.” said the teacher gently.

“That’s right,” said Stephen. “The tomb was empty, and that represents new life for everyone.”

Later that summer, Stephen’s condition worsened and he died. At his funeral on his casket, mourners found eight L’eggs pantyhose containers—one from each of his classmates—and all of them empty.

…and that’s why all the best

Easter eggs are empty.

Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead - not a fantasy, many people met him after he rose again. Because God did it for him he can offer the rock-solid promise that all who believe in him and follow his way will follow him through the door of death to a fantastic new life.

But there’s an even better promise than that!

Jesus promised that that new life can start right now in this one. Do you yearn for a life full of meaning and purpose, a life lived to the full? That’s the gift that he offers you this Easter.

Why not receive it?
(adapted from ‘When the game is over it all goes back in the box’ by John Ortburg. Zondervan. 2007)

Shalom

(an atheist roofer I met in Cublington asked me why I used a Jewish greeting. I explained that it was so rich in meaning - it means wishing you peace, every blessing, wholeness)

Revd Derek Witchell
01296 682320