Eleven years ago, almost to the day. Our last few months in East Africa before moving back to London (although we didn’t know that for sure at the time). We’d driven over to Kenya from Kampala for Easter, to stay with the Harrises, Rachel’s cousins then working at Turi School.
Turi is situated in the hills around Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, and every Easter, members of the school community would assemble on a ridge in the school grounds at dawn. To celebrate the most astonishing fact in human history. Christ is Risen.
It is a spectacular spot – and was an unforgettable moment. For 200 miles due east stands the majestic Mount Kenya. Which means that the sun rises directly beyond it.
(click image to see in more detail)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)
Not a trad Easter verse, perhaps, but one that is certainly applicable, because the dawn comes as the result of a birth… which leads to a new birth.
As Luke tells us at the empty tomb:
οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλὰ ἠγέρθη.
He is not here; he is risen! (Luke 24:6)
How can we not now live in this light?
Happy Easter!
