Easter felt so special this year. We made an extra effort to really focus and study about Christ's final week of his ministry beginning on Palm Sunday. It made all the difference in my experience of this season.
There was no better way to begin Holy Week than by worshipping at church. I was able to give all of my attention to the sacrament and hymns while I sat up at the organ bench.
I'm thankful for all of the resources the Church has put out to make Holy Week special. Each evening, Justin, Logan, and I sat on our couch to read the prompt and scriptures for the day, followed by the Bible video. Tears filled my eyes on more than one of those nights as we remembered our Jesus Christ and what he taught, did, and sacrificed.
On Good Friday, I read a quote from another blog that stuck with me:
"It is very hard for us now to read about the events surrounding Jesus' torture and death without the pain of it being diluted by the universal spoiler alert of the fabulous conclusion of the gospel narrative. But they who went through it didn't know it would turn out, not just "ok", but unspeakably gloriously. They labored over his lifeless body with no notion at all that this was going to work out well. Their hopes were dashed and there was nothing for it but to provide as appropriate a burial as could be arranged. There was sad work to be done and endured.
This moment in the narrative is important because of the time we ourselves spend on the "Friday" of our experience with no notion of how the "Sunday" ever can break through it." - Brian Kershisnik
I know this principle is the same for our lives'. When we keep God and Christ at the center of our lives, they will transform them into something unspeakably glorious. I think of our experiences from the day we arrived in Berlin until now. It has been much better than Justin or I could have imagined or written up for ourselves. I know God is in the details, preparing and giving us amazing opportunities & people who have filled our lives up with so much goodness and love.
On Easter Sunday, Justin's coach cancelled their shoot-around before the evening game. Miracle!! We were able to go to church together for the first time in months. I don't think I'll ever take holding Justin's hand at church for granted. I missed him being there with me.
Easter Monday is also an official holiday in Berlin. From Good Friday-Easter Monday, EVERYTHING is closed down. Grocery stores, Nike outlet, big restaurants, you name it, closed until the Easter weekend is over.
It felt appropriate to walk on quiet sidewalks Monday morning. I was glad my world wasn't rushing back to the norm quite yet after such a special week.