“Then they remembered his words.” – Luke 24:8 (NRSV)

 

On Wednesday, March 13th, there were 250 United Methodists from all walks of life, representing a variety of world views and political perspectives gathered at the steps of the capital in Lansing as we witnessed to, and encouraged one another and lawmakers to consider the necessity of affordable mental health care, equal and sufficient access to it, and other related matters. We stood there in Christian witness and compassionate encouragement as people of faith who believe that part of what it means to love our neighbors is to be a voice for our neighbors, especially when the voices of the afflicted aren’t being heard.

 

During this time, I, along with several others, had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Martin, who represents Grand Blanc and a few surrounding communities in the Genesee County area. During that time, we expressed our hope for his support of mental health care legislation, and encouraged him to remember the stories we were able to share with him of how effective and equitable mental health care has positively impacted the lives of many in our communities, and how increased access to such care not only impacts more people, but truly saves lives.

 

As our meeting ended, our small group presented Rep. Martin with a handcrafted butterfly, adorned with a semicolon (;). We explained that the symbolism of the gift is two-fold. The first symbol being the semicolon, a symbol of the unfinished story. As people of faith, we deeply believe that our story is never completed. Accompanying every life is a story that is unfinished – a story that we cannot allow to be cut short by suicide and the challenges so many face with their mental health.

 

The second symbol presented in the gift is that of the butterfly. The butterfly represents transformation. It represents life that emerges in a renewed way. In its own way, the metamorphosis of a butterfly is a resurrection.

 

On Easter Sunday, I shared in my sermon the words we find in Luke 24:8 – “Then they remembered his words.” The verse is in reference to the women who approached the tomb on Easter morning, ready to anoint the body of Jesus with burial spices when they discovered that the tomb was empty. Facing two angelic figures, they began to remember what Jesus told them during his ministry about resurrection. But, I don’t believe it was because they simply forgot. Rather, I suspect that they were simply struggling to see beyond their present reality: grief, pain, hurt, dismay, uncertainty, etc… 

 

Perhaps the butterfly and the semicolon are ways for us to remember what Jesus taught. Perhaps those symbols are ways for us to share with others those same words of hope. In these days beyond Easter, may we remember that there are those among us – neighbors in our community, friends in our church, members of our own families, even – who are spending their lives silently looking into the empty tomb, unable to see the possibility of resurrection. Perhaps in the midst of all that they’re facing, they’re unable to consider the notion of putting semicolons where they only see periods. In these days following Easter, may we be for someone else – and, if needed, may someone be for you – the angel who proclaims a reminding word of Jesus promise of new life; of transformation; of resurrection.

 

;
Pastor Brian