What Easter and Passover bring to our lives is an opportunity to come together in community with peace and love. Patients frequently attribute their healing to their “church praying for me”. Many are on prayer lists and when they are alone at home, they may still venture to a service where everyone sings with one heart. It is in this beauty and reverence that healing happens.

I am reminded of the phenomenon of community in nature this week. At the edge of the pond is a magical find. Hen and drake mallards are attending to 11 new born baby ducklings. The grass is taller than they are so it is the brown ripple that suggests this new burst of life on further inspection. What happens next is a lovely demonstration of community. As the dog scampers close to the pond, the mother lifts her long neck for a broad sweep of “the threat”. The drake paddles back and forth in front of his babies. Across the pond 2 very large herons untuck their heads and stand tall spreading their wings hoping to fend off the intruders and 6 large turtles all swim toward us. It is a symphony of action and protection. They all are compelled to protect these darling ducklings. Once we turn and pose no threat they retreated to their spaces.

What a fun and natural reminder of support in a community- even among other species! Wouldn’t we all rally for each other? Of course. Again and again life provides and often we benefit. When we don’t have the strength. When we cannot find a way back. When we are in need, especially unusual for many who are self sufficient their whole lives. When we lose heart and hope. Know that there are others surrounding who will engage, lift, support, care for and pray for and with you. That is how we come back to renewal. Never alone. Always with God’s love providing us with protection and strength. The next day, the ducklings found water and started to learn how to swim. But they did not do it one by one. They gathered and supported each other, following the mother who proudly brought them to a new adventure with confidence.

Let us all share in that confidence this Easter season that renewal is possible, especially when we reach for each other. Happy Easter.