Easter Day - April 16

More Than Enough

Some of you may know the poem or story, “I wish you enough”.  With just a quick search on the internet, it’s hard to figure out its true origin.  I first saw it fairly recently on Facebook, where it was set within the context of a parent and child saying goodbye at the airport for what they knew would be the final time.  There is a book I Wish You Enough published in 2009 (Bob Perks), but I’m not sure if the book or the poem came first.  The poem goes like this:

I wish you enough…
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how grey the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

It is touching and heart felt.  But it came to mind for me today because it is so NOT Easter.  The sentiment “I wish you enough” is SO not Easter.  It is the best we can do without Easter.

I think people find it meaningful because it seems to teach contentment and appreciation for life’s gifts.  It is offered as somewhat of an antidote to the voracious striving for more of our culture and society.  So many people today never feel like they have enough of anything…

I have no quarrel at all with those messages…

BUT, “I wish you enough” is so NOT the Christian message of Easter.

Last night we participated in the Great Vigil of Easter.  It includes an ancient prayer called the Exsultat.  Exsultat.  Exaltation.

In the Exsultat we say or sing:

Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth,
bright with a glorious splendor,
for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.

Never mind “enough” sun to get through a gray day.  A glorious splendor has vanquished darkness.  The glorious splendor of our eternal King has vanquished darkness.

Easter is about abundance!  About God’s abundant love and life poured into our lives.  God’s abundant love and life.  Eternal.  Immeasurable.  Abundance.  Which by definition is way, way more than enough.

“Enough” will get you through life, maybe, barely.  But the abundant love and life given by Jesus’ resurrection offers so much more than getting through, even getting through difficult times.  Jesus’ historical resurrection came into the lives of people at the time who knew fear, uncertainty, grief, and violence. 

Jesus’ resurrection today comes when many people face fear, uncertainty, grief or violence.  And brings resurrection life.

God’s abundance life and love brings, not just “enough” to satisfy our wants, but mercy and grace, more than we could ever want or need.

Abundant resurrection life overcomes despair with hope. 

Resurrection life offers not just endurance, but joy. 

Into the midst of violence, resurrection life plants seeds of peace in our hearts.  Peace that surpasses human understanding. 

Wonder overcomes fear. 

Resurrection life gives not just enough hellos to get through the final good-bye, but eternal hallelujahs where life triumphs over death.

Around the year 400, St. John Chrysostom wrote an Easter sermon that describes hell’s reaction to Jesus’ death:

Hell is in an uproar

Hell took a body, and discovered God. 
It took earth, and encountered Heaven

Jesus’ resurrection takes our earthly bodies and lives and fills them with heaven.

So our Christian greeting this Easter season, or anytime is:  I wish you the abundant love and life of Jesus’ resurrection.