A puking kind of hope

       Yesterday, as I was driving to church to Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ my heart was filled with joy, excitement, and thanksgiving!  I was excited to gather together with brothers and sisters in Christ as together we would proclaim, "HE IS RISEN."  I was excited to see how God was going to work in the lives of those who did not have a relationship with Him.  I was excited!  (and the sun and blue sky that finally decided to make an appearance in MN also added to the excitement of the day).  Shorty after leaving my house I noticed a car pulled off to the side of the road, and than also noticed the woman with her head hanging out the door puking.  In the midst of all my joy, and excitement, and anticipation, I see a woman on the side of the road puking.  What was her story I wondered?  Long night drinking?  Leaving work because she became sick?  Leaving church because she was sick?  Or many other options that ran through my head.  The truth is I don't really know, and probably never will know what her story is, but it made me think.  I was joyful, excited, thankful, and very hopeful as I was heading to church.  She, on the other-hand, was probably not in the same frame of mind.
       I asked myself the question, "what does the easter message offer to this woman puking on the side of the road?"  What does the easter message mean for all those who were not able, or willing, to join us in worship of Jesus Christ?  The answer that came rushing into my mind was, "hope."  The easter message means that as long as someone is still alive there is hope.  Hope that does not fade or disappoint, regardless of circumstances.  It is a puking kind of hope, because even if we find ourselves pulled over on the side of the road puking we still have hope.  Hope for this life and for eternity is found in Jesus Christ BECAUSE of His death and resurrection.  My mind was drawn to Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation (including puking), WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JEUS OUR LORD."  Praying that wherever you find yourself today, and tomorrow, and everyday, you will realize that the hope we have is an everlasting hope BECAUSE of the Easter message!  May you allow that to fill you up, and may you have the opportunity to share that hope with those God places in your life today!