The shrouds of life
From the swaddling of a baby
to the warming blankets of later years,
we carry a shroud.
Babies are wrapped in blankets for warmth and security;
toddlers and young children carry a comforter for security;
teenagers use a hoodie for security.
All of these are shrouds.
As adults we leave behind the physical shroud,
apart from when we are ill,
but we pick up other securities,
insurance, money, power and more.
All of these are shrouds.

In the tomb on the third day,
the shrouds were left behind,
and that is what we are called to do,
discard our shrouds.
That is the message of Jesus,
heard in so many conversations in his ministry,
Nicodemus, the rich young man, the disciples.
He encouraged those he met
to let go and be, to untether and fly free.
To swap the green of the land for the blue of the sky,
to fly like a bird and not a kite.

Resurrection happens when we let go of our shrouds
and trust in love.
Resurrection is new life now, not a dream of the future.
The Easter story reminds us that living life fully can be risky,
but it also reminds us that the rewards
are beyond our imagination, for now.
It takes courage to let go but following Jesus
means we are invited to move beyond what we know and imagine,
let go of our shrouds and fly free in the love that is God.

Artwork: Falling Shroud by Heather Whyte