Holy Rollercoaster

This time of year always reminds me of the 6 am Easter service I attended as a kid. The entire Sieg family would wake up early and, with our eyes half open, prepare for worship at St. John’s of Antrim Township, the sister of our usual church. We attended that particular church on that particular day because Mom and Dad thought sunrise was the best time to observe Easter. Either that or it was the fresh egg bake and warm cinnamon rolls being served by the Ladies Aid afterward.

My family would sit somewhere near the front-of-the-back of the church, where my sisters and I could show off our frilly, pastel-colored Easter dresses (if they weren’t under our winter jackets). And we could see that the rest of the congregation was also wearing the best of their Sunday bests.

As worship began, joyful music ushered in the Pastor, who wore a white stole to signify the resurrection and the life. And the Easter lilies filled the chapel with wonderful hints of hope. Ah, Easter Sunday – a joyous time, indeed.

And to think it wasn’t all that long ago that Jesus was on the rollercoaster known as the Lenten season. Today, Lent is usually observed by attending dark and somber Wednesday night services – right before you head over to Target for bright and beautiful Easter baskets filled with Jelly Bellies, Peeps and of course, Cadbury eggs. (Although, I’ve always thought the best thing about those eggs was actually the commercial).

The famous Cadbury Egg commercial

Once Easter arrives, it’s easy to forget that Jesus had just returned from history’s first-ever silent retreat in the wilderness. And when I say “wilderness,” I’m not talking about an Eddie Bauer tent and a self-inflating mattress, or an REI single-wall shelter, which even most Subaru drivers consider “roughing it.”

I’m talking about the desert. Where the original Survivorman spent 40 days alone fasting, praying and resisting temptation. First, Satan told him to change a rock into bread and feed himself. Then he asked him to worship him in order to receive the kingdom. Next, Satan told Jesus to jump off a cliff and be saved by his father.

Oh Satan, if you watched any Lifetime Movie Network at all, you would know Jesus’ family actually had a much more dramatic salvation in mind.

So instead, Jesus told Satan to jump off a cliff. And a few days later, he received a wonderful homecoming as he rode into Jerusalem. Atop a donkey. People waved palm branches to welcome Jesus as a king. (I’m pretty sure they used them as donkey pooper scoopers as well. Hey – just because it’s not in the Bible doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.)

Later in the week, Jesus made dinner plans with a bunch of his friends for Thursday night. Toasts were made, dinner was shared – and so were sentiments. To walk off the wine, Jesus took a quiet stroll in the garden. And that’s when the real trouble started.

Jesus was betrayed, captured and taken to prison, all in short order. His trial was an injustice and he was sentenced to death while a well-known criminal was set free . “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And where is CSI: Jerusalem when you need them?

But that’s how it was scripted and that’s how it had to be. Good Friday was anything but good. And after a long and agonizing walk up the hill, Jesus was mocked, injured and put to death alongside convicted murderers and rapists. Which kinda makes my Easter bonnet from 1981 seem a little out of place.

Thankfully, however, the story doesn’t end there. Because as a Christian, Easter Sunday gives me hope for the afterlife. And more than that, it gives me hope for this life. One where I may be tempted, but I’ll also resist. Where I’m sure to be ridiculed, but I’ll grow stronger because of it. And a life where I may suffer, but only temporarily.

Halleluiah. And amen.