The Easter season begins with a celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter morning and lasts until the celebration of Pentecost seven weeks later -- a fifty-day period paralleling the 50 days Christ spent on earth after his resurrection. It is a time of celebration for the new life and salvation we find in Christ. During this season, the church is adorned in white symbolizing Christ's purity and our sanctification as believers, and is marked with feasting and celebration.

During Lent, we walk with Jesus toward the cross. During Easter, we walk with the first disciples away from the grave and toward the realization that death has had its last day and that the resurrection power of Jesus reigns.  

One year, after attending Good Friday service together, my daughters and I talked honestly about how sometimes Eastertide can feel like a let-down. It seems to be easier to understand fasting better than feasting. We thought that might be, in part, because our world is generally obsessed with feasting, and whatever we try to do to mark Eastertide feels like the stuff we're normally trying to do every day anyway. 

I wonder, too, if sometimes feasting shows more plainly how far away from God we still live. When I can be satisfied with just the right amount of wine or chocolate, that is feasting. When I can't stop either one, that turns into gluttony which is no longer true feasting. In some ways, fasting is easier, yes? 

Put another way: feasting is a discipline, too. We take in the good with gratitude and contentment without making an idol of the gifts. This requires us to depend on the Creator as much (maybe more so) as any other spiritual exercise. 

To help increase our imagination on how to practice resurrection, each year I’ve tried to introduce your stories - whether in guest posts or via social media linkups. Even though it’s looked a bit different each year, I’m always delighted to see what you have to share from your own lives.

For more inspiration, here’s a list of ideas I brainstormed for simple ways to practice resurrection.

Choose 1 idea or 50, but whatever you do, do it with gusto!

Resurrection Stories archives