It was a online cute photo fest over the weekend, wasn't it?
The sweetest family photos we've ever seen at church, children decked out sitting next to the Easter bunny, and even grown-ups too posting pictures of themselves hiding eggs in their backyard.
Beautiful dresses at church. Children in green yards holding Easter baskets. And happy couples in front of their homes.
When we see these photos posted, we start to make assumptions about people's lives. What's the state of so and so's marriage? How are their kids doing? Oh, they must love their new church!
And on a day like Easter, it's as if everyone's life goes from a frazzled mess to beautiful in only the matter of a day.
I mean, I had no idea my friends could die such beautiful eggs!
On Sunday, I joined in all the celebration and posted a picture. And it was a good day!
Lovely friends who hosted Kevin and I on Saturday night, two great worship services at church, an unexpected Easter basket from Kevin that I found in the floorboard of the car on the way home, a causal lunch with some good friends in the afternoon and some down time in the evening.
But I think the smile on my face was about something deeper than all these things. The stories that led to the photo are beyond what any 140 character tweet could articulate.
If you and I could pull up a chair right now and chat, I could tell you stories.
They'd be stories about hopelessness, loss and wondering if I could ever find my place in a state I never planned to live.
They'd be stories about perseverance and vulnerability-- trusting in the fact that resurrection was indeed possible when it finally came.
They'd be stories of 4 moves and one house that finally felt like home.
They'd be stories of gratitude for a landscape that I once scorned but now overwhelms me often with its beauty!
Most of all they'd be stories about death-- dying to what I thought my life was so that I could see what was right in front of my eyes.
And I don't think it's just me.
All our photos tell stories that aren't communicated, that go beyond the surface.
When I think about the dear ones that I love, what I want most is hear more of these stories.
I want to slow down, drink more coffee slowly and listen.
I want fewer days to go by where I don't connect in meaningful ways. I want to get more of my news from real life conversations, not Facebook.
So, let's get together soon! Let's not allow the photos we post to speak for us.
