After enjoying a nice game of Bananagrams last night with Claire and Mark, we woke up to a beautiful Easter morning. I have really been looking forward to Easter this year, mostly due to one of the last books we read in our reading group by N.T. Wright. Although he has some odd theological views overall, this book focused on our views of the resurrection and heaven. It also was very challenging about how we should celebrate Easter more than any other Christian holiday. It should be met with great exuberance and joy. This has really spurred me to dwell on the grandiose nature of the Resurrection. It really is a beautiful and truly life-giving time. After a great service we had some friends over for lunch. Beth made a great spread of turkey, green beans, steamed broccoli, pasta, and some mixed fruit. Ben and Lis brought a freshly picked salad, David brought some flowers from his yard (see below) and Karissa brought an awesome angel food/berries/whipped cream dessert.
The oddest part of the day came about 3:30ish. While we were all sitting around the couches, I noticed that the hanging light we have over our dining room table was swinging. I asked whether anyone had bumped it, but it seemed that no one had gotten up in the past 20 minutes or so. After some jokes about our house being haunted, we just wrote it off as odd. Then, on our way out to Bret and Val’s for bible study, Micheal Eiting called and told me that there was an earthquake in Baja California, Mexico at 3:40 and that it had registered all the way in Tucson. Although hard to believe, I took him at his word until I was able to get home and check it out. Apparently there was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake followed by two 5 point aftershocks. Beth then remembered that our friends are down in Rocky Point, Mexico for the weekend and that they probably got a really good shaking there. We look forward to hearing some stories from them when they return. It was an exciting evening and we can now say we survived our first earthquake.
How appropriate to have an earthquake on the day that Christ was resurrected. Wright’s book had the same effect for me.
Matthew 27:51-53
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.