Image by u_osk932pj9i from Pixabay

I’ve been reading Sarah Speed’s beautiful poems in the Sanctified Arts Lent/Easter Leaflet I received at Bridgenorth United Church. Poetry is not my strength, but occasionally I give it a try. This Easter poem was inspired by God, Sarah, and my great-grandson Riley.

Plastic Box

A plastic box. A yellow lid.

I know the chaos, that hides inside.

Eyes, legs, a jumble of pieces.

There is no hope. I won’t even try.

 

He’s only six. This child I love.

He lifts the lid. He stares a while.

He picks a piece, then two, then three.

They fit together. He shouts with glee.

 

He smiles. He knows.

Piece by piece, a creature grows.

It’s hard. It’s work. And yet, it’s fun.

They click together, one by one.

 

Out of the chaos, a creature rises,

He smiles. He laughs at my surprise.

“I knew,” he says. “They all were there.”

He held her high. “Her name is Cher.”

The choice to start, to trust, to risk.

That’s all God asks and brings us joy.

New life can rise in this old world.

Just watch and learn from this small boy.

 

Children can teach us so much. That plastic box sits on the toy shelf in my living room. A few weeks ago, I watched as my great-grandson, Riley, took it down and opened it. I looked in and just shook my head. What a mess. It felt like a giant jigsaw puzzle, which I hate. But, Riley knew better. He knew there were animals there. He knew with effort he could create something amazing. And he did.

This Easter morning, I am reminded that many of us stand at the door to the tomb in the Easter story. Whether it’s the sadness and grief in our lives, or the violence and destruction happening in our world today, we feel lost. What can we do? Why even try? There is no hope.

Our Easter story tells us:

THERE IS HOPE!

 New life is there waiting to rise. Jesus showed us that love can conquer it all. Love can make the choice to step into chaos and bring new life. New life does and can rise from the chaos of today. We can choose to do our part.