Another View
The Rushes hit the road for a little forced family fun on Easter afternoon. It was our first Cape Charles experience, and it didn’t disappoint! What a quaint little town with a big personality. It sort of had a Mayberry vibe where the citizens have more information on their neighbors than their own lives. There’s something nostalgic about life in a small town.
Cape Charles is on the Chesapeake Bay like my part of Norfolk, Ocean View. I’ve looked out from the East Beach shore countless times into what seems like an infinite amount of water. From my normal position, the bridge stretching north to the east seems to disappear into the horizon. It’s not an infinite distance, 17.6 miles from shore to shore, but that’s a lot of water to cover. With the construction of the bridge, it’s not the commitment it used to be, but the roughly $1.00 per mile fee is cause for pause. For forced family fun- totally worth it!
Standing from my unusual perch on the Easter Shore, the Ocean View shoreline was beyond reach. I knew it was there because I had the experience. It was the same sun setting I’ve watched countless times, but its position was different above the water. The sun hadn’t changed. The shoreline was the same. It was I who had changed perspectives. I don’t want to trade in the Ocean View sunset for an Eastern Shore one, but I did appreciate seeing things from the other side.
As I’ve thought about Easter 2024, it stands apart from years past. I never want to trade in the view from this side of the resurrection, but it is helpful to try and place ourselves alongside those who first experienced the empty tomb. A dead body doesn’t naturally come to life. What a bizarre thing to come to believe unless it really happened. If it did, everything from that moment must be different! It’s difficult to see the resurrection from the other side. Jesus foretold His resurrection, but no one fully processed what He was saying until they experienced the empty tomb.
Mark chooses to end his resurrection account with the frightened ladies. We know from other gospels that Jesus did soon appear to them, and I bet He was grinning from ear to ear. “See! I told you so!” -Jesus. We just get so comfortable seeing things from our side.
The challenge with experience is that we lose our sense of awe. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Easter should still create a sense of trembling and astonishment. Stones still don’t roll, and a dead body still does not breathe unless God declares it to be so. God help us to not get so comfortable with the view that we lose our sense of awe. A view from the other side is helpful.
The sun over the Chesapeake Bay is a sight to behold but nothing compared to the Son who overcame the grave. One day we’ll see Jesus face to face. We’re privileged to experience Easter from this side, but nothing will compare to the power of Easter on the other side! Faith is our fuel for now but one day our faith will be transferred to sight. Jesus will say to His followers, “well done good and faithful servant.” But I think He might also look at us, smile, and say, “See! I told you so!”