What To Do When You Can’t Say “Easter”

It was spring again and time for the annual neighborhood egg hunt. I was searching for motivation to pull this together… again… by myself.

Years earlier, when I hosted the first hunt, I was told to call it an “Egg Hunt,” not an “Easter Egg Hunt.” I was asked not to include special messages or symbols inside the eggs to represent the Resurrection of Jesus—in other words, no religious talk. I was told there were people of many faiths, and we didn’t want to exclude anyone. In addition, the last two years it had been around freezing on the morning of the hunt, and only a few brave souls showed up (and got plenty of eggs), then quickly left for home to get warm. So this year, I was less than enthusiastic about the gathering. After all, what was the point if I couldn’t share the meaning of the holiday?

Well, God reminded me that being a light starts with relationship, and relationship starts with meeting people. Meeting people starts with being in the same place at the same time—with others at the Spring Egg Hunt.

So I sent out the invitations, bought $70 worth of plastic eggs and candy, and purchased drinks and bagels for snacks. I recruited my 14-year-old son to help stuff the eggs the night before and desperately called a friend to ask for help setting up and hiding the 200 eggs the next morning. She gladly agreed and brought her own son along to help.

As the start time approached, we were blessed with 20 kids and their parents, including some grandparents. I was able to meet new people and catch up with others I already knew. We played a few games, and I gave special prizes to the kids who found the fewest eggs. I shared that we wanted our neighborhood to be one where people know and care for each other—a good, safe place to live. I also mentioned that it was Easter weekend and that if anyone was looking for a service to attend, there were many churches in the area. I placed several copies of my church’s Easter brochures on the table. Several people took one. I don’t know if they went or not.

So what was the point? I needed to obey God and leave the results to Him. Building relationships takes time—sometimes years—and it has to start somewhere… one step (or egg) at a time.

How about you? What does obedience look like for you this Easter? Go to the Lord with your concerns and pray for discernment and wisdom and a heart to take a step of faith.

See our full list of Seasonal Ideas to Connect with Neighbors here.