Resurrection Hangover

Dear Worshipers,

I was visiting a church pastored by a dear friend of mine this past Sunday during my vacation. In his opening remarks and welcomed to the folks gathered to worship he mentioned that he was delighted to see so many of them again the week following Easter. As you know, many people find their way to church on Easter Sunday morning who have a hard time finding their way back the next week, or for a long time.

He said, “I’m glad to see you are not experiencing a resurrection hangover.” Those words really caught my attention. While the first and most common definition of a hangover is the ill effects experienced after a night of drinking, the term hangover was originally a 19th century expression describing unfinished business—something left over from a meeting—or "survival." [Wikipedia] Another definition and the one that I eventually wrestled with can be defined as a letdown, as after a period of excitement. [dictionary.com]

Easter is certainly exciting. I was using words leading up to and even Easter Sunday morning like pinnacle to describe the importance of the celebration of the resurrection in the yearly cycle of the gathered church. While we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection every time we gather in one way or another, Easter is IT! The DAY!

It is hard not to come down from that. If it is the pinnacle, how can one not come down. You can not live at the mountaintop. There is not much there, other than the feeling of a nearness to the Lord. But life, and ministry, happen in the valley. So how do you keep from letting the hangover come?

You can’t. I really don’t think you can avoid it. But I do think you can avoid allowing your feeling to negatively affect your countenance. As you stand on the side of the mountain or near the valley at the bottom, look up. Fix your eyes again on Jesus, the Author and FINISHER of our faith. [Hebrews 12:2] It may be finished, but you are not!

Put your faith to work for you today for there are still things Jesus wants to do in and through you. Shake off the letdown from previous period of excitement and get back at it, whatever it is for you in God’s gracious plan. There is unfinished business, but that is something to be excited about, not hungover.

Jesus, help me shake off the let down of a previous period of excitement in You. I want to get there again, to that place of exhilaration and exuberance in You. Take me there as I walk one step behind you.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy