He is not here...he has been raised

Matthew 28:5-6

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.

It trickles in slowly

Just like the soft light of dawn

It's not the sudden trumpet fanfare

that we have made it

but a slow, gentle unfurling.

As Easter creeps forward

its touch slowly awakening

all in its path

the effect is gradual

measured

long lasting.

Even when the dawn of Easter

startles

provoking excitement

it is the calm that is left in its wake

that remains

the warmth and the joy

that continue to infuse

and change lives.

And it is the soft memory

of eternal promises

that persists

even when night has come again.

Easter - not an all at once

life changing moment

But a slowly dawning

gift for eternity

a treasure

with layers

upon layers 

of wrapping

to be gently unveiled

and savoured

in the fullness of time.