Muddy Easter

Today is Easter! Growing up my mom used to say, "He is Risen!" We answered back, "He is Risen Indeed!" As a kid I always felt awkward saying this but as I get older I understand the need and hope that fills these words.

These last few weeks have been difficult for Clayton and I. Two weeks ago this past Monday, I found out that I was going to lose my job. It's been frustrating trying to get through the past few weeks, feeling like work is a little pointless. Clayton went for his ordination meeting this past Tuesday. He is also feeling similar frustration since the DCOM (District Committee on Ordained Ministry) informed him that he missed a step in the process and now he has to wait a month. What was really frustrating is that he did not know this until the meeting.
All of this leading up to Easter Sunday...

We went to regular service at the 9:45 and then slipped out a little early to go to Timberlake East for their new opening. Tom had a really good message. He talked about mud and how in New England they consider it another season, the season between Winter and Spring. He went on the say that sometimes our lives are stuck in the mud. We are somewhere between the darkness of winter and the newness of spring. I feel like that right now. What really stuck out to me was the his third point, that even in mud there is purpose. That God does not give us times of mud for mud's sake but to help someone else who may go through this situation.
It was really encouraging to me to hear that these rough times have purpose and God is just not allowing it arbitrarily.

So we had a "Muddy" Easter Sunday.
Then we played croquet!