“An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it.”  — Matthew 28:2

Speaking to a retired Austin citizen recently, I received an idea. Within a larger conversation, I mentioned that I was working on an article for the Herald — an article about Easter. Her comment, of a kind that most of us might resonate with, was, “It is a splendid season, Easter time. It is a reminder of fresh starts, of new beginnings.” Right!

My response to such thoughts, is to invite the reader to think along with me about: A. What can be left behind?  B. What is my life like today? C. What may I hope for in the vein of the positive?

Under four words, let us think together about HOPE. It is a reality that one may address under several terms: H = Healing; O = Openness;  P = Proclaim;  E = Enjoyment.

 Healing

Healing is both sought after and a source of gratitude when realized. With an understanding of the religious setting, termed “lavra,” think please, of the miracle of sorts, that has taken place in Russia in recent years. A “lavra” is a major monastery, designated by the Orthodox Church in Russia. In what is regarded in the past decades, there are now among the spiritual centers, four monasteries viewed as rare sites sought out by thousands of Christians on pilgrimage.

A professor at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, John P. Burgess, writes in the journal “First Things” (May 2014), the following: “Today’s Russia is different from Peter the Great’s, different from Tolstoy’s, different from Stalin’s. But I have joined the thousands of Russians who make pilgrimages to the lavra each year. They take the same roads and pathways as their ancestors. Then, at their destination, they glimpse what many generations have sought and beheld: Holy Rus’. Orthodoxy’s vision of divine beauty and truth briefly touches them. They are at once chastened by the pettiness of their worldly loves — and elevated by a sense of divine transcendence that unites them not just with Christ, but also with the highest achievements of Russian culture.”

What an uplifting commentary on a part of the world of which we pray, hope, and are gladdened by positive changes. And read again, please, that line “chastened by the pettiness of their worldly loves …”  Hey, it can happen to each of us! The healing that is available — Easter points the way — is that we can get beyond that which hinders a full life. Pettiness is one of those many-faced culprits. It may seem that in making reference, pointing up the positive developments of the spiritual hungers of ordinary citizens of Russia, that I am unaware of negatives; the harshness of another feature of Russian life.

There are side-by-side ugly and demeaning features of the “big picture” in Russia. My family roots, a grandmother from Kiev in the Ukraine, has my daily attention on a country under threat of war. Russian life is large. The geography is large. The commitments of its people are not one of a kind! For Easter I view the spiritual possibilities!

 Openness

Openness to what may revive, renew us, and reconstruct a bit of our emotional lives is a challenge.

The Biblical story of the stone that was rolled away speaks to me. And however you consider the event — a poetic myth, parable, allegory, metaphor, or an actual miracle, or the story of a stone rolled away — the message being conveyed has broad applications of what’s being said. What seems to be a trap, a reversal, a prison of sorts, a dead-end, or death does NOT have the last word!

Many stories of our “Herald” newspaper that reflect positives deeds, point in the direction of hope. Are we willing, do we take a stance of open arms to invite the goodness that seeks our welcome?

 Proclaiming

Proclaiming that which sustains us — the grand turns and triumphs — will push the miracles into the shadows of the harassed. Note in the Biblical story: “Jesus said to them, Go and tell …” (Matthew 28:9). The disciple knew they would grow warts if they sat on their hands! They were energized to tell, to share, to invest, and expand the good stuff. A man they regarded as Savior, was not to be herded into a self-serving territory with protecting walls. They knew “Good News” and that reality was to be pushed beyond their own “tribe,” family, culture, language, or town.

 Enjoyment

Enjoyment was the natural composition of mind. The demeanor was a gift of gladness. (“They still could not believe, they were so full of joy and wonder.”  — Luke 24:41).

What can we make of Lent, Holy Week, and its culmination in an Easter morning? A challenge might be in order. A vision of one’s future days is to expand our “playing fields.”

Asking what brings contentment, closes the offending gaps, and knowing the pleasure of a life lived in the spirit of forgiveness, granted and received, is certainly to be considered.

Getting down to fundamentals, one person asked another: “What really makes you happy?” To answer such a question is a large order! Examining the sources of pleasures, the resources of contentment and fulfilling our dreams always renews a spirit of hope.

Marvin Repinski is a retired United Methodist Pastor and Austin resident.