Monday, April 11, 2021
Brooke Bassett
Resurrection
"For we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."- Romans 6: 5-6
A body ruled by sin, done away with by the death of Christ, giving us the freedom to no longer be slaves to sin but to live, be alive to God through Christ Jesus. Day after day in my role as a middle school counselor in the Seacoast I work with children and families that live in the past, relish in guilt and worries and stress. I myself find times that I am also stuck in this cycle of loss of hope, feeling guilty and fearful. The resurrection of Christ, to me, is a time to reflect and "let go" of my fears and worries and to remind myself that we are forgiven, released from the grip of sin. Because of Christ's death and resurrection I have the power to live as my "new self", but what does this mean?
For me personally, it means to let go of the past, take time to be outside in nature, breath the fresh air and be present, noticing my surroundings. When I am living a life filled with guilt, worries and fear I am not able to be present, to actively listen, to love with my whole heart and to see the beauty that is around me. To "let go" of these worries and breath in self love and support. Trust in the Lord, trust that with Christ living inside me the light that I bring to my family, friends and my work is nourished by him. It is freedom.
Yesterday, I was walking with my family in downtown Portsmouth, reflecting on a week filled with stress, anxiety and fear of what is to come with another change in the school schedules for not only the children and staff at my school, but my daughter, her peers and the teachers and staff that are working tirelessly to teach our children through this pandemic. Something came over me and I felt a sense of relief, that all of these changes, all of the worries of what lies ahead and what has already happened are not in my control. As I lifted this responsibility to somehow control the outcome of events that I have no control over, I "let go" and started to take each step walking with Christ. As the walk continued and my mind and body was free, I was able to hear my kids laughing, take in my surroundings and notice the trees with flowering buds. I felt the sun on my skin. My ability to sense the world around me awoke with my ability to "let go" and be, my true self, my "new self" the one that God created to be like him in true righteousness and holiness.
My wish is to continue to walk with Christ, to "let go" of my fear, stress, worries and thoughts that take me away from the light, into the darkness. Trusting in God and knowing that his resurrection means that I am loved, I am forgiven, I am dead to sin, and I am alive to God in Christ Jesus.