Recognized, Named, and Welcome

Leland managed to split his head open at the Seder dinner this week. A railing, a step, a commotion—and suddenly there was blood, paper towels, and a very dramatic retelling of events. (Don’t worry. He’s fine. Six staples and no concussion. Just a lot of flair.)

But I couldn’t help but laugh later that night—Easter eggs and cracked heads… it’s the season of breaking things open.

And maybe that’s not so far off. The tomb is cracked open. Hearts are cracking open. People we haven’t seen in years—some only twice a year—are cracking open the door and walking back into church.

The pews are fuller these days. Maybe it’s The Chosen. Maybe it’s the exhaustion of a world that doesn’t seem to let up. Maybe it’s Easter. Whatever the reason, more people are walking through our doors—some for the first time, others after a long time away—and they’re looking for peace, for meaning, for a place to rest.

There’s still time to invite your friends, your neighbors, your family members who only come twice a year or haven’t come in years. Easter is two days away. This might be the very moment they’re waiting for someone to say, “You know what? Come with me. You’ll love it.”

And if they do come—when they come—let’s welcome them without hesitation or condition. Let’s be the kind of community that makes it easy for someone to return home. No guilt, no lectures. Just warmth. Just joy. Just a little space to breathe.

This is how resurrection begins—not all at once, but person by person, story by story. Christ is risen. And that means hope cracks through the hardest places.

Even heads.