Nouwen: Easter Message
“When you forget your true identity as a beloved child of God, you lose your way in life.”—Henri Nouwen, “Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil: Be Not Afraid” from Fear to Love: Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Creative Communications of the Parish, 2009).
Jim and grandson, Zach
So many spiritual friends I talk to identify with Nouwen’s Easter message. For many reasons, usually fear-based, we lose our true identity. We forget that we are loved by God and seek love everywhere else. We stop becoming the person God created us to be, and turn into the person others or our society wants us to be. We become people-pleasers, fearing rejection. We become insecure, fearful, frightened, and look for relief in power, addictions, fame, money, or attachments to others. We grow dependent on what others think about us, or we may become paralyzed and unable to make any decisions. We eventually become acutely aware that we have lost our connection to God. Where can we find help?
My experience is that it is in a community where we find help. We talk to others who can share their connection to God. In recovery groups, this is called “sticking with the winners, staying close to those who have their lights on.” Eventually, we are healed, and we stay connected by reaching out to others who have gone through a similar experience.
As the alcoholic or addict in recovery stays sober and clean by telling their story, we talk to someone else seeking recovery and share our story of Resurrection from Good Friday.
Some may not call it Easter, but that is what it is. I was reminded of this by a dear friend, Jim Waldron, who now lives in the resurrection—who indeed became sober on Easter Sunday many years ago.
Resurrections are offered to us in the life to come and in this life. We know it is true, because we believe it and have seen it! Resurrections have happened even in this pandemic and horrible war in Ukraine. I have seen families who have been estranged come together to help each other. This is a resurrection time for our earth. People begin to talk about what really is important in life.
Joanna joannaseibert.com
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