Tears

I sat a simple table for the brunch we shared with friends this Easter morn.

It followed a wonderful church service featuring triumphant music

and a sermon from John 20:1-21. 

My eyes wandered up and down, back and forth across the pages of my Bible
as I listened to Pastor Bill.

Underlines and circles drew my attention to notes I'd previously entered on the pages--

specifically about Mary who (after John and Peter had left the empty tomb)

stayed, stood, wept, saw, turned, saw, went, and announced!

"Wept" and "turned" were what caught my eye this time.

For some reason, I'd overlooked them in previous reads.

I turned them over and over in my mind, realizing that over the past few weeks

tears have become my treasured friend.

Not tears of sadness so much as tears of unspeakable brokenness,

compassion, gratitude and worship all rolled into one involuntary and very unpredictable package.

Reflecting on the morning and my tears, I welcome them and open my heart, life and home anew

 to the same Jesus that Mary saw  through her tears
that Resurrection Morning those long years ago.