Last Tuesday, as I mused over what images I could use to depict this week’s theme “Lifted Spirits,” something wonderful happened which lifted mine.
April is usually the month we move our travel trailer to our windsurf campground for the summer. Of course, this is on hold since the campground is closed until further notice due to the California Stay-at Home order. I had driven to our local storage center to pay for another month on the trailer.
Feeling a little sad for the delay, as I turned the corner to my house, I saw a car parked in front and saw that it was our Pastor and his wife. They had just dropped off the Easter lily many of us had pre-ordered for today’s Easter Services.
Our Pastor creates a podcast of his message each week which is the smart thing to do in these times, so we haven’t seen each other in the last three weeks. Every Sunday, our pastor walks through the sanctuary and stops at each pew and prays for us…he knows where we all sit since we tend to be creatures of habit. He e-mails the link to the podcast each week with scriptures and words of encouragement
We sat in our cars and chatted for a moment and I thanked him for his efforts.
As they drove off to deliver more lilies, I felt so blessed to receive them this week, as the spring sunshine enveloped us after a weekend of rain. My spirits were lifted indeed!
For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope, and life—the spiritual essence of Easter.
The media has been buzzing over churches that are insisting on holding services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did our pastor remind us to “Love Our Neighbor” by staying home from church services, another clergyman, Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church echoed this important message about social distancing:
“This is one time when I believe that, frankly, we are doing God’s will by not going to church,” Curry told ABC News’ T.J. Holmes in an interview that aired Friday on “Good Morning America.” “In this pandemic, we are being called to show mercy and compassion, to love our neighbor.”
Rev. Michael Curry, via Good Morning America
My husband and I sat in the comfort of our home in our Easter pajamas listening to our church’s Easter service. Knowing that members of our congregation were doing the same thing today, also lifted my spirits.
Here are some other images that lift my spirits. Some of these are at the “TOP” of my list for inspiration this week!
I said earlier that we usually move into our Sacramento Delta campground in mid-April. This was last year’s April sunset.
Does the Word of God lift your spirits?
Notice the words in the bottom left corner? Weird how the random page I chose for the photo has a warning against gathering…
Perhaps you are more literal with the word “spirits.” I’m told sales of alcohol are up while we are all staying home!
It lifts my spirits to walk the trails in the Sierra Nevada foothills with my “top dog” Aero.
The Easter lilies are submitted for Cee’s Flower of the Day. Other images are shared for Becky B’s April Squares Challenge: Top.
What is something that lifts your spirits during these uncertain times? Show us in an image, poem, song, story or other creative ideas!
I pray that you find spiritual renewal during these trying times. Enjoy your Sunday and beyond. Happy Easter from my family.
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.