Quick Thoughts on Easter

I have had a very contemplative Easter week. I'm grateful I've been given so many opportunities to sit still and ponder. It may have begun with my Stabat Mater concert on Wednesday; I had to write on my music the translation of Latin text about Christ and Mary's suffering at the crucifixion. Performing those words meant truly connecting with the text. The performance also included sitting through a sermon, which was wonderful, but something I probably would not have sought out on my own.

Every day this week, Mormon.org has issued Easter cards, designed for sharing on facebook and other social sites. I absolutely loved them, and shared several on my page. Take a look:

On Sunday, I sang with a trio of girls at an Easter music program for the community. We sang "Beautiful Savior." It was another situation where I was obliged to listen to a sermon (something I would have skipped because of how busy I've been feeling lately). It was on Grace, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.

The speaker told of a student who had asked a teacher, "I know I need to do my best, and Christ will make up the difference, but I can't even handle doing my best." The speaker held up a sheet of paper and said, "the top of the paper is God, and the bottom is you. Draw a line to represent where your efforts end and Christ's grace begins." The student drew a line across the middle of the page. When the teacher said "Wrong," the student replied, "I knew it needed to be higher." The teacher said, "No, there is no line. Christ is the entire paper."

We are completely saved by Grace. So why must we obey the commandments? Because Christ has asked us to. Because it shows him that His sacrifice has earned our love and devotion. Because it is an offering unto him when we spend our lives as He would wish. It is not a repayment -- we cannot repay our debt. It is an offering of gratitude and devotion.

It was a wonderful Easter week for me, and I'm glad my mind and heart were "checked in" these past several days. What a meaningful, overwhelming message of love--for those who stop to recognize it.