Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

With the nicer weather upon us, Kim and I have been going to one of our local parks to get our exercise by walking the loop around the perimeter of the park.   It’s a popular spot for walkers and runners because the loop is clearly marked as a total distance of 1.2 miles with intermediate distances marked along the way.   Thus, it’s easy to keep track of one’s distance.    Of course, the large majority of people there walk or run the loop by going counter-clockwise.   They get on the path and just naturally go to the right.   The other day, however, I felt like going to the left.   I wanted to see what it was like to walk the loop clockwise.   As I did, I realized I got to actually meet the other people who were walking the path.   Many of them I would run into numerous times as they walked in one direction and I walked in the other. As we passed each other, most would just look straight ahead, but I would do my best to catch their eye and greet them with a “Good mornin

John 20:15 – “…(Jesus) said, ‘Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’”  It was the first Easter morning.  Jesus was alive!  He had risen from the dead!  Yet, Mary was in the garden crying.  She was still in a place of sorrow and grief.  Why?  Because the resurrection of Jesus had not yet become a reality to her.  She had not yet experienced the risen Christ for herself.  The One for whom she was looking was alive, but she didn’t know it.  So, Mary continued to cry.  Mary was crying on Easter.  Then Jesus came along.  And, when he showed up, when the risen Christ appeared, everything changed for Mary. Hopelessness was suddenly gone. The sense of loss disappeared. The grief was overcome. Excitement and joy—mixed of course with mystery and wonder—filled Mary’s to overflowing.  The resurrection power of Jesus Christ changed everything!  Jesus’ new life brought new life to Mary—and to all who would come to know him in his resurrection power.  We who are Christians know that