Easter Sunrise Service

Easter has always been a wonderful time of year for me, because growing up in Nigeria, we celebrated Easter in a wonderful way. Good Friday was a holiday, but a solemn one, with a contemplative service in the evening. 

Easter Sunday morning was one of my favorite traditions of all time, because we had a sunrise service out by the dam. It was so cold, and I remember seeing cars pulling up in the darkness, and families getting out their lawn chairs and blankets, setting them up to the east, over the other side of the reservoir.

 I always remember the begrudging attitudes I had when getting up, not wanting to be up that early, but combined with an excitement for the day. I don't remember much of the content of the actual service, but obviously the gist of it isn't hard to imagine. What I do remember were the sunrises themselves. I may be totally biased, but I remember those as some of the most magnificent sunrises anywhere that I have ever seen.

 I don't know if the sunrise did the service justice, or the other way around, but either way, they worked perfectly in tandem. There is no greater metaphor in my mind for Christ's resurrection than a sunrise. And so, with every sunrise that I see, I'm reminded of those Easter Sunday services, shivering in a blanket by the edge of a dirty brown reservoir in Jos, Nigeria. And more than that, I'm reminded of the power of Christ's resurrection. The power He gives to us through His Holy Spirit. And I'm reminded that, if He conquered death and paid for our sins all in one deft blow, there will be many more sunrise reminders, just for me.