The glorious Easter season is once again upon us and we not only
think about lambs and their value to the One we aptly call the Lamb of
God, but we think of little chicks as well and how they break out of
their shell in to the light of day. Well, haven’t you ever thought that
before they broke out that they had been encased in utter darkness and
that such an existence was hardly making sense to them? Strange things
had, indeed, been happening. Upon their little faces two things we call
eyes had come in to being; a beak had formed in their mouth; and – more
strange still – two things had been growing out of their sides which was
making them more cramped than ever while within a dark confined, cavern
experience. These were wings in the making!
But then, one day – through passing through a momentary and
frightening experience – they stretched out their beak and wings and a
terrifying cracking experience occurred. Bu then, all sense of panic
soon left as their eyes began to blink and, for the first time, they
were beginning to see something they could never previously have
envisaged. What a contrast this new world was compared to their previous
dark existence. For the first time they knew why they had eyes. And,
what is more, as they looked down and felt a pang of hunger, they began
to realise that they had a mouth to give them exquisite experiences of
taste as well as ability for sound. Yes, and before long, those strange
encumbrances from their sides, which didn’t make any sense at all within
the shell, would soon give them the ability to hop and then fly.
Dear reader, it is similar with us. Things occur within this life for
which we simply have no answer. Many faculties – including spiritual and
moral – begin to develop, and many of them just don’t make sense. But
then, one day – and none is immune from it! – a traumatic and,
sometimes, quite frightening experience occurs which each of us must
solitarily pass through. It is our own passing in to eternity. And when
this occurs it might seem as alarming to ourselves or to our loved ones
as breaking through a shell. Yet, on the other side we begin to learn
the reason for all those developing factors, many of which seem
meaningless or utterly confusing on this side. So take heart when you
are at the graveside or crematorium of the one you loved so dearly. Did
not even St Paul say: “Ear has not heard, eye has not seen, and neither
has it entered in to the heart of man what God has prepared for thoise
who love him!”
Go on to
What Kind Of Image Do We Convey?
Return to Spring 2006 Issue
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