A Golden Egg for Everyone
By Heather Dearmon
Heather McCuen Dearmon is an artist, writer and poet who lives in the wooded countryside of Pelion, South Carolina. Since she became a Christian 10 years ago, she has strived to create art, writings and poetry that reveal the many aspects of her life as a believer, and she has a chapbook of poetry, "The Seraph's Shadow.”

"That's so kind of you," I told my mother-in-law when she called to tell me she had purchased an Easter outfit for my son.” He can wear it to church on Easter," she said happily. I didn't have the heart to tell her that we won't be going to church on Easter Sunday, or many other Sundays for that matter. She was so thoughtful to give my son some nice dress clothes, and he'll wear them some time in the near future, but it won't be for a formal church service.

For many reasons that I won't go into, my husband, son and I have joined the small percentage of Christians who no longer attend a traditional church, but rather hope to find God in non-traditional gatherings within the comfort of a home. There are a few things I really like about this type of church setting: I don't have to dress up for the times we meet with other Christians. At these home meetings, our only agenda is to experience God in our midst, and I like it that we don't place much emphasis on religious holidays. Now, just to be clear, I love and respect all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what denomination or traditional practice they might prefer. I'm just a very laid-back person, and so is my family, so this kind of church situation suits us.

I was not always part of a "House Church". I grew up in a main-line denominational church, and for Easter I wore pretty pastel dresses and hunted Easter eggs, earnestly searching for the golden egg. Thankfully, my mother has a caring heart, and never wants anyone to feel left out or deprived. So, on Easter mornings when my little sister and I hunted the eggs that were carefully hidden in our living room, my mother made sure there were two golden eggs, one for me and one for my sister. I remember the joy of finding the golden egg, and the many sweet emotions I felt at Easter. Everything in nature seemed to be bursting with new life: The dogwoods were in bloom, baby birds were singing in their nests, and the tulips in our garden were openly displaying their brilliant colors.

I had the same wonderful Easter feelings when at age 20 I fully gave my heart to Jesus. Now, fully 10 years since I was born-again, I am still amazed that Jesus is there for me every morning, anew, just as He promised in His word. He stands, arms-wide-open, ready to embrace me with His love, and I am once again a child, overwhelmed with the joy of Easter and finding the golden egg. I want to yell with exuberance, "Look! Look! The golden egg is mine!" But it's not an egg really, it is something far better: It is the risen Lord Himself, robed in all His golden glory, living within my heart. And just as my mother made sure that both my sister and I each had a golden egg, He offers Himself to each of us, so that all may experience the wonder of Easter.

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