On this Easter Sunday, I’m struck by the preciousness of life despite its complexity, the worth of a soul despite some contentious people in my path these days, and the overwhelming power of God’s love and truth.
As CS Lewis said in his famous trilemma, ‘Liar, Lunatic or Lord’ — you can’t just call Jesus a good moral teacher. His claims were too great, too outrageous and supernatural. Either he was lying, was crazy — or he was right. And a day like today is as good a day as any to visit — or to revisit — his life and words, and decide for ourselves what we think. Personally, when I do so I am transformed — and relieved — by the purposeful love, sacrifice and forgiveness behind everything he did and said, and how applicable his wisdom is to me each day.
Right now around me, I see such joy — a friend marrying her long last love; my long-awaited baby goddaughter/niece’s first Easter; the blessings of my own kids, amid dealing with difficult classmates at school; and my noble husband, always seeking the right despite his many work stresses and unethical competitors…
And also I see such heart-rending challenge — a favorite young teacher with late-stage cancer; a friend with an ill child; another in a marriage troubled with addiction; health challenges all around; my local church divided by intense factions; conflicts within volunteer organizations; compatriots suffering around the world for their faith or ethnicity.
And yet there is Hope.
This day reminds me of my own people’s sacrifice – The Armenian Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in 1915, commemorated on April 24 each year and having its 100th anniversary this year. Despite Turkey’s denial, more countries and institutions are acknowledging the truth of history than ever before and honoring the legacy of our ancestors, who died instead of giving up their faith, or their hope that their people would survive. And we did.
So much to be mindful of today — yet I’m resting in the fact that there is true Victory, because of Today.
As a character of mine says (a line I feel I cannot take credit for because of the inspiration out of nowhere that blew it onto a page one day): “Love who you can, while you can.”
And allow the Greatest of Loves to ease your heart today.
“He is not here; He is risen, just as he said!” — Matthew 28:6
Happy Easter.
Onward.
This post originally appeared on Easter 2015.
Lisa Kirazian 
Having lost my eldest daughter to cancer when she was 8, I understand the idea of blessings and tragedies. But I also know that faith helped me to carry on. Keeping hopeful, living in love and moving forward with faith is all we can do anyway. And as it turns out, that that’s all you need. Also, without looking too closely at CS Lewis’ 3 options, it is easy to simply say he was a good man. He was indeed so much more. Thanks for this article.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Maria — and for sharing. May God continue to guide, heal, and strengthen. You are such an inspiring example. Thank you.