As we are about to turn another page of the calendar, we are reminded of just how quickly time flies. It seems that we only recently hung the 2025 calendar, and now we're about to embark upon the halfway point of this new year, which brings a flurry of summer activities. With so many activities and responsibilities filling our days, I'm afraid there are times when we miss opportunities to reflect on those very special moments in our lives that have had meaning for us. For me, one such memory is a childhood in which my days were spent playing outdoors with my siblings in the expansive yard of our country home for hours on end. It seemed that time stood still as we children played among the flowering plants and bushes which were prevalent in the yard each Spring. It was at this time in my life that I realized that the sweet fragrance of the blooms of the lilac bushes became apparent every year just before my birthday. This was a special time for me, as I knew a time of celebration would soon be happening in a few days!

Recently, I was reminded of my affection for the "sweet fragrance of the lilacs" as we prepared our hearts for the Celebration of the Resurrection. We thought about the death of Jesus and how horrific the scene would have been to witness in person. Now try and imagine witnessing it from the Father's perspective! Think about how he saw, heard, felt, knew, and wept over everything that happened to Jesus. Think about how he felt placing the sin of the world, the sin of you and me, on the shoulders of his perfect and undeserving Son. Imagining all of this enables us to gain perspective on the unfathomable love of God as expressed in Ephesians 5:2:
"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet fragrance."

With all the Father witnessed that day, with all the suffering Jesus faithfully endured, God still considers Jesus' death "a sweet fragrance." How is that possible? How could anyone consider the death of Jesus "a sweet fragrance," let alone the Father? Such is the incredible depth of God's love for us that he would count the atrocities committed against his Son as "a sweet fragrance." Such is the enormity of God's desire for restored relationship with us that he would look upon the death of his Son with favorable remembrance. 

The death of Jesus was a turning point in the scope of eternity. His sacrifice meant a change from all of humanity opposing God to the crown of his creation returning to his fold. God so longs for communion with you and me that he paid the ultimate price. He counts us worthy of the death of his son. May we allow God's love to be the foundation for our perspective, thoughts, emotions, and actions. May we slow down, rest in his presence, and find hope and security in the truth that his arms are always open to us -- ready to embrace us just as we are.

In Christ,

Charlotte Dunham
Elder