I am sure I will ever cease to be amazed at the power of sunlight to affect people’s moods. Over the last few days, Minnesota and all surrounding areas have been awash in sunlight and warm weather. Because we have had such a mild winter, it seems odd that we are now walking around with the same giddy looks on our faces that we normally have after a cold, snowy winter. But we are. Children are running around with boundless energy, shrieking as if they have found a new voice they never knew they had. Bicycles have been pulled from behind the little used snowblower and tires have been pumped with air. Cobwebs have been brushed from bicycle helmets fit for small and large heads alike. Adults are baring their dry, flaky winter skin to the warm breezes and turning their faces toward the light. Even the dogs I’ve passed on the sidewalk seem to be smiling.

Of course, I have heard the typical Minnesota pessimism seep through. ” We’re sure gonna pay for this in a few weeks.” ” Who knows what could happen ? It could snow yet.” “Can’t be thinkin’ about seeds and gardens yet. The safe date for a good freeze is early May.” And on and on. All these statements could be true but the way things have been, it seems unlikely.

In planning for our Easter services, I have already been dreaming about the real possibility of being able to open the large glass doors that ring the entrance where we hold our Sunrise service. How wonderful it would be if we were able to have our early morning worship overflow into the yard and onto our outdoor labyrinth! It would seem like a true celebration of the new life bursting forth in our world.

I am reminded how all important celebrations of the Christian household have their beginnings in observances of those pre-Christian folks who moved and gauged their lives by the movements of the earth. Those who shaped the early expressions of our faith tradition,wisely, folded many of the traditions and rituals of the people into an expression of this new understanding of the Holy One’s Presence in the world. Christmas is near to the celebration of Winter Solstice, another observance of Light overcoming the world’s darkness.

The celebration of Easter is a little more confusing. It is one of those ‘moveable’ feasts. Even those of us who make our life by knowing ‘churchy’ stuff, get tripped up on how its
date is decided. Since the 4th century Easter has been the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. Whew! Throw that into some party conversation and watch brows furrow.

Personally, I love knowing that I am connected in some winding, circuitous way to these ancients who lived their lives by the Sun and Moon, by being attuned to the movement of the seasons and gifts of each. I have found it comforting to know that what has been of prime importance for longer than I can imagine was honored by the early shapers of a faith tradition in which I have found a home.

For some reason today, the song that has been streaming through my head comes from Paul Winter’s beautiful mass Missa Gaia:

“For the mountains, hills and pastures, in the silent majesty,
For the earth forever turning, for the skies for ev’ry sea.
For all life, for all of Nature, sing we our joyful praise to Thee.
For the sun, for rain and thunder; for the land that makes us free;
For the stars, for all the heavens, sing we our joyful praise to Thee.
For the earth forever turning, for the skies of ev’ry sea.
To our Lord we sing returning to our blue-green hills of earth.”

Seems appropriate on such a magnificent day. It could just be the sound track playing through the heads of all those smiling faces……even those with four legs and wagging tails.