P.E.S. (Post Easter Syndrome)

This one goes out to church goers as well as clergy and church staff alike (and might sound like one of those dreadfull infomercials that flood the LATE night -and are now filtering into our less-than-prime daytime hours).......

Are you suffering from P.E.S. (Post Easter Syndrome)?

Was your soul a bit tired this past Sunday? You are not alone. Statistically, this past Sunday is when even some of the 'regulars' are ir-regular. We have gone through a whirlwind week of emotion, preparations, meditations, writing, thinking and soul searching and busy, busy, busy, busy, business for anyone connected with Adult Ed, Church School and ..... absolutely not the last or least...... the acolytes, choir and altar guild.

There were more costume/decoration changes in that 8 day cycle that would put anyone in an over-the-top Broadway musical to shame. Switching emotional gears for the music - from provocatively heart-wrenching to out and out joyful is pulling a rabbit out of a hat (NOT the easter bunny). Going through the paces of having extra people moving all about the sactuary, special pitchers and bowls and thuribles, crosses with and without draping and flowers and trips up and down the aisles makes the MC of any acolyte group like a drill sargaent (but much more charitable, of course).

Yes, we're all tired.

At the end of it all - beyond feeling as if you slept at the church for a solid week - how DO you feel?

Beyond the curtailed list of services to attend or prepare for, beyond the physical change, beyond recovering all of the unfound easter eggs (plastic, me thinks)...... if something has changed as a result of your Lenten discipline and Easter revival, how has it - in the greater scheme of things - affected you?

Where are you on your earthly spiritual journey? What will you take forward from this recent experience and incorporate in to your day-to-day conversation with God and your interaction with others?

Don't punish yourself for wanting to slow down the pace.... the activity we tend to pack into observance of our major liturgical seasons (Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter) is nearly too much for anyone to bear.

So I encourage you to relax a bit. Take a bit of time for your recouperation! That's not to suggest that you neglect getting those things your soul needs.... but you might choose to go to a shorter service or a different time slot.

While the Ascension and Pentecost don't have the same build up - time and energywise - they are still part of the pre-Pentecost season of green, green and more green...... so do put some extra prayer there.

Enjoy the remainder of Eastertide, however you may spend it. I do hope that some grains of thought planted during the muted days of Lent will flourish in you - even now - as you prepare to collect the Easter lillies from church and plant them in your yard for next year. Peace be with all of you. DJ