holy week: our burden is light

holy week. the biggest week of the year in the christian faith. the super bowl of the church calendar. this week, we'll spend a gigantic amount of time creating experiences, leading, pastoring, praying, teaching and sharing the risen hope of our savior. it will all be so good.  

i've been praying that easter would be a memorable, special moment for families in our church. that they'd have moments of connection with each other and with jesus, and that they'd remember easter 2014 for years to come because they prayed together, laughed together, celebrated together, and because, most importantly, their faith grew together. 

but, to be honest, all of this special moment creation is taking the life out of me. i'm exhausted, already. it's tuesday morning, and it's possible that i'm having a small meltdown on how i'll manage my energy this week. i'm pretty sure my husband said to me as i was walking out the door this morning -- may the holy spirit and coffee be your strength today. so, yeah. we're there already. 

the thing about easter, though, is that really, at it's core it's all about the freedom that jesus gives us. freedom from sin, of course, but also, freedom in day-to-day life and community with him. jesus' freedom gives peace and hope and rest and strength and new life. 

and following jesus, claiming his freedom is not a heavy burden. he says, "take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” {Matthew 11:29-30}

because of this, i'm determined to not let this week be consumed by tasks and tiredness. i claim the holiness of this week for myself, too. i want equal parts leading and receiving this week.  

this week, i drop my shoulders, i breathe deeper, i walk slower. his yoke is easy. life in and with jesus is not tiring, exhausting, life-draining. jesus is peace and life and healing. 

and, as i call people to life with jesus this week, i won't call them to the heavy burdened life. i refuse to share jesus' peace while stress and tension run through my body. i call them to a life that is rest for the weary and freedom for the soul because that's what i've found, that's my life.

follow me as i follow jesus. 

holy week. our burden is light.