An experience of Easter
I had two young children and my husband was away working long term in Suffolk. As I was on my own at Easter, I went to stay in an hour away in north London in a bungalow in the grounds of some ministers I knew from when I was at college.
The children enjoyed playing in the local grounds of a former stately home, and seeing my old friends. I had packed the car to go back, taking the children to toilet before the long trip. I washed my hands, and with car keys in my hand inadvertently left my handbag on the toilet floor.
You can imagine my horror when I arrived home that Easter at night, with only keys, no money, no cards, and no cheque book. It was a bank holiday weekend so I couldn’t go the building society either. At that point my house key was still with my car keys!
I phoned late at night, and fortunately received a reply. The minister went to look for the handbag, found it intact, things go missing from a north London church! I said I would get it in the morning.
This left me with a problem, two young children on another long trip, no money or cards and no petrol in the tank. My neighbours were as poor as I was, and I thought if I went round the lot, I would be lucky if I raised enough to get me to London and back.
At about midnight, I had a surprise phone call! A young trainee minister from the parish was at the beginning of my housing estate close in his car, with my handbag! He was lost and didn’t know the way in, there were multiple turnings, and no Satnav then. I said I would run out to meet him. So, leaving the children asleep, I ran out into the night to find him.
I didn’t know his car, but there was one parked, engine running in the entrance to close. I cautiously peered in, I didn’t recognise the guy driving at all, the young guy on the other side was dressed in hippy clothes. I failed to recognise him and started to sprint away full speed. I had run about 10 feet when the guy on the passenger seat, got out of the car and suddenly hailed me loudly.
“DERYN!” He called. “It’s me Anthony! With your bag.”
Sure, enough it was Anthony, I hadn’t recognised him in my panic, even though I had known him for three years, I had only seen him in cleric garb before. It was only when he spoke, I recognised him! He had come with his friend all the way in the dark to save my young family!
That was when the reading in the gospel came to mind.
When Mary Magdalene in the garden after the resurrection sees Jesus alive, she doesn’t recognise him and runs away, much like I had! It was only his voice that she recognised in her panic to start with. John Chapter 20 and Luke Chapter 24.
Of course, after that I showed Anthony and his friend to my house, and we had a midnight snack, before they departed all the way back to London. I was, of course, overwhelmed and over joined at Anthony and his friend’s kindness, and also the senior minister who I knew had sent them.
It struck me that had parallels too, with God sending the two angels to the tomb, and to the women.
But the experience didn’t end there. I now acquaint this with a renewed vision and wisdom and understanding of the Resurrection experience. It has so enriched my understanding of the Resurrection and the women’s experience, for ever. I’ve also been lucky enough to have another experience of a magnitude like this at Christmas. Both times, in adversity, God showed me something truly remarkable. They spoke truly of his great love for us.
Deryn Stewart. Youth and Children’s Worker.