Turn the Tide of Negative Emotions with Eastertide

Eastertide can help me turn the tide of negative emotions and circumstances. And yet, it is so easy to forget Eastertide when waves rise, and troubles abound.

Last Sunday, I celebrated Easter. And yet, troubles and turbulent waves of emotion rose this past week in view of the relentless aftermath of my son Christopher’s traumatic brain injury. Friday and Saturday were horrible. The way I responded at times was as if, Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday only to return to the grave on Monday, or sometime later in the week. It is important for me not to lose sight of Eastertide, which lasts for fifty days from Easter Sunday until Pentecost.

I must confess that I did get some relief from moving the lawn and pulling some weeds yesterday. It was even better meeting up with an old friend to share some struggles and laughs amid pain before returning home for a good night sleep. It’s amazing to consider what nature, friendship, and a solid night’s rest can do for you. It’s also amazing to consider what Eastertide can do for one’s spirit and outlook on life.

It was good to wake up this morning to news of the Orthodox celebration of Easter today in such places as Ukraine. The Orthodox celebrate Easter one week after most Roman Catholics and Protestants many years, 2022 included. I was struck by how some women in battle worn Ukraine made Easter bread with joy amid the rubble with no running water and amid electric outages. Such resilience! (You can listen here to a short news story and interview about the baking of Easter bread in Ukraine)

I am going through a war of a different kind during Eastertide. You may be experiencing severe conflicts of various kinds, too. Jesus never promised to take away all our problems. As he told his disciples the night before his death by crucifixion and a few days prior to his resurrection, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33; NIV) We all experience various turbulent waves and changing tides, which can capsize us, if we are not alert and discerning.

Jesus doesn’t blow sunshine up our butts. He never promises to fly us to the moon so we can escape our problems. The crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus sends the Spirit at the close of Eastertide on Pentecost and empowers his followers to triumph over evil in this world.

So, how can we triumph and turn the tide? I need to think differently in the moment and with a long-term perspective in mind.

First, I may not be able to change my circumstances, but I can change my response mechanisms to them in the moment in view of Jesus’ ongoing victory over death and evil. We will have trouble in this world. But I can be victorious in how I engage my troubles in view of being responsible in my responses to them, as concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl encouraged us. It’s never wise to fly off the handle when paddling the boat with the changing of the tide. It will only lead me to capsize.

Second, I need to focus on the long term, not short term. As Dr. King said, “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Good will triumph in the end. The same Jesus who rose from the grave and has triumphed over evil will come again to make all things right and whole. I need to live each day in view of his resurrected life and come to terms with the fact that this same Jesus who overcame the world will help me to overcome. Today’s struggles will not last forever. Stay patient.

I can bring these Eastertide points home in dealing with our ongoing saga involving the aftermath of my son’s traumatic brain injury. Just as the nurse put a cold, damp washcloth on Christopher’s head last night due to one side of the brain experiencing a fever, so I can put a cold, damp washcloth on my emotions. Fevers come and fevers go. Emotional frenzies come and go. I need to keep a cool head when addressing rising tides of emotion and be responsible in my responses. Positive pro-actions are much wiser than negative reactions, which only make matters worse.

The same Jesus who triumphed over suffering and death makes it possible for me to prepare myself to engage troubles victoriously during Eastertide and beyond. Turbulent tides will come. But the upheaval will pass, maybe not today, but some day.

Those Ukrainians baking and eating Easter bread today look forward with hope to victory. So, too, do I. In this world, we will have trouble, even during Eastertide. But take heart! Jesus has overcome the world.

To read the various updates of my family’s ongoing journey involving my son’s traumatic brain injury and its aftermath, please refer here. Thank you for your prayers!