In the middle of life’s isolation, busyness, or desperation, it’s easy to assume that those hardships are the last chapters of our stories. But often, those chapters are just the beginning.
This is the story of Natalie. She is a hard-working mom, just trying to provide and hold her family together. Her job is demanding of her time and energy. She is desperately overworked and underappreciated — and constantly looking for support from her husband who doesn’t seem to be accessible. On her drive to work, she notices a community art installation and pauses her routine to see what’s going on.
The sawdust art style, Alfombras de Asserin, from the story was inspired by an Easter tradition from Mexico, Central America, and South America. In the week before Easter, entire towns come together to pave the streets and sidewalks with beautiful sawdust carpets to remember and celebrate the hope of the resurrection.
These carpets are made from something most people would throw away — sawdust. But when it’s infused with new colors and patterns, it becomes a beautiful piece of art that an entire community can be part of.
This is a reflection of the story of Easter — Jesus taking our ordinary lives and making them into something full of beauty and meaning, rewriting our story with a new ending, and breathing life into lifeless situations. Jesus brings us together, united by the power of his love, to create something beautiful … a beauty that lasts.
“I have come in order that you might have life — life in all its fullness.” -John 10:10
We hope you’ll join us at one of our Easter services this year as we come together in celebration of Jesus rebuilding a new kind of hope in our lives and in our communities!
Find location and service times at saddleback.com/easter
Our Story Has Begun Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9U2eoeSUQA
Our Story Has Begun Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH1w-_W0ojM