Easter Sunday dawned with a bit of a chill in the air. The rain continued on and off through the day. It didn’t really matter. We were not going anywhere. We did look forward to our first family experience with ZOOM, allowing all to see each other on the screen at once. The call would be made at 1 pm Indy time.
Our services were to start at 10 am online. John was showered and dressed. I was still in my PJs, having spent the early morning packaging cookies for the granddaughters and neighbor’s children. I had wrapped the pillowcases for the grandkids the day before. Thinking I had plenty of time before the family ZOOM at 1 pm., I showered leisurely and truly enjoyed ‘fixing up a bit’. Hunkering down at home had done little to enhance my beauty regime. Many days I wore little or no makeup. It fascinated me to realize how quickly I pulled myself together and raised the bar on acceptable standards of personal grooming when various groups began ZOOM conferencing into our home!
Our entire clan had not been altogether since Christmas. We had planned a family get-away in late December to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, but all had to be delayed as John underwent emergency spinal surgery for a synovial cyst at the L4-L5 level of the spine. The rescheduled family reunion was to take place in late April. Flights for Lyse had been booked. Housing had been reserved. But once again, all had to be cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic. Needless to say, today’s ZOOM would provide a sweet blessing to my soul − all of us chatting together, enjoying each other’s smiles. I looked forward to it.
We had done a practice ZOOM with Lyse the nite before, making sure technology would function properly. She looked well rested, and really quite good, in spite of the fact that she was still struggling with several COVID symptoms; weakness, easy fatigue and dry cough spasms. She felt she had no temp though she had not checked it that day. I was encouraged. She was improving.
Our 1 pm ZOOM chat did not disappoint. What a thrill to be able to see all at once− well, almost all. Lily refused to participate because she was not allowed to hold the phone. Meg had situated their family around the house in four locations on various pieces of technology. Eric held his phone in the basement, Meg held her phone in the upstairs bedroom, sporadically joined by one or the other of the ‘littles’ (aged 6 and 7+). Ella manned the main floor computer and Claire, the laptop also on the main floor. A good looking family if I do say so myself…such fun to be able to have a conversation in three very separate locations. As always, all loved chatting with Aunt Lyse, whose house was strangely quiet. “Where are the dogs?”
Aspects of this ‘unique’ holiday celebration were very attractive to me. I spent virtually no time cleaning the house or preparing a meal. This year, the MOST significant was what mattered the most. Our celebration of Easter concentrated on the Cross, the Tomb, and the fact that on Sunday, that tomb was EMPTY! It focused on family and the ability to hear each other’s voices and see each other’s smiles.
John and I DID enjoy a good meal, however. John grilled steak along with baked sweet potatoes and a lovely tossed salad. True to form we had a tray dinner watching the news updates. Only this technologically advanced world allows us to see the empty churches around the world celebrating Easter and Passover during these strange days of isolation. Never before have we had such an Easter. How does one face such catastrophic death tolls without the promise of Easter assuring us that death is not the victor?
Because He is Risen − as we believe He is − this life is not the end. We have a hope in a risen Savior who conquered death completely. Thanks be to God. As Queen Elizabeth shared in her Easter address, “We need Easter now, more than ever!”
Christ is risen…risen indeed!