Next
Saturday my son and his darling wife, Jordan & Karli, take off for sunny
Los Angeles, California. Her father,
Rich Hall, generously flying in from Everett, Washington, will drive the truck
with their belongings toward their new place in LA, as their apartment in Provo
watches the couple that made it charming leave.
Naturally, I’m superimposing my own feelings onto the place, but
honestly, there’s no way any new occupant will know how to make their home
within its walls nearly as appealing.
I’ll stay behind, waving from the parking lot, both overflowing with
memories, but I’m the only one capable of tears. Unlike
the building, however, I can and will visit them soon, which reminds me of the
holiday following their departure--Easter.
Any farewell is painful when loved ones part, but how much more
devastating are the separations brought on by bad choices and/or death.
Without
the glorious reality of the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, so many
years ago, those partings would bring inconsolable woe. Instead, Jesus did Atone for our every
misstep and mortal pain, arose from death, and opened a golden pathway of hope
for each and every one of us.
No loss or
broken bond need ever be permanent, as we choose to faithfully align our mortal
journeys with His. No matter how far off
we seem to be, the way back to who and what we love is right there waiting for
our return.
How
fitting then, that traditionally, Easter is celebrated with rainbows, bunnies,
flowers and other reminders of the return of life after Winter’s seeming death.
My hope and faith is bound up in this undying
promise. Remember, contrary to the theme of pop culture, the truth is that nothing
good ever really dies, and love is the only thing that lasts.
