Emptiness Full of Promise

          This week, I saw a great article by recording artist Carolyn Arends.  She shared a unique quote she heard from her pastor who said in a sermon:

“The world offers promises full of emptiness.  But Easter offers emptiness full of promise.”

          All of us have experienced those empty promises.  We have lived with good intentions that didn’t deliver.  We have lived in a world of smoke and mirrors and things that talk big but just don’t have what it takes to bring it upon the reality of the challenges we face every day.

          But ironically, Easter offers emptiness that is full of promise.  There is an empty cross, an empty tomb, empty grave clothes. 

          There is hope there, because all too often, our lives are simply empty.  Oh sure, we are busy, probably too busy.  Our lives seem very full in many ways, but at the end of the day, when we put our heads to the pillow, all that fullness proves not filling but exhausting and dare we say, empty.

          But Easter offers emptiness full of promise.  Jesus can redeem emptiness.  Like God, he can create something out of nothing.  He can create light out of darkness, and hope out of hopelessness. 

          This Easter weekend, I hope you will join us at one of our Easter services.  The tomb is empty, but our prayer is that our church will be full of those seeking hope, and more importantly the presence of a very real and living Jesus who can still redeem those empty spaces in our lives and world.  See you there, 

Pastor Pete