I think it is safe to say we all make some sort of mistake daily, and, in some capacity, all mistakes we make affect our lives.  They may affect our credibility, self esteem, and/or accountability.  They may fill us with guilt, make us question ourselves, or overwhelm us with embarrassment.

Some mistakes affect us so greatly that it seems we will never overcome the burdens and struggles that come as a result.

I had the fortunate experience to talk with two gentlemen at our Emergency Shelter the day after Easter as they were waiting to be picked up for their Intensive Out Patient Drug Rehabilitation class.  One of the guys started telling me about the sermon that was preached at Travis Park United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday.

The pastor likened the stone in front of Jesus' tomb to our personal struggles, and he, much like I do, imagines the stone in front of Jesus' tomb to be a very large, round stone.  The Apostles were crushed by the fact that Jesus had just been crucified.  With nowhere to turn and no one to lead them, they went into hiding for fear of their lives.  They knew Jesus said he would be raised from the dead but there was no way they could know for sure as soldiers had been placed in front of the tomb to prevent anyone from trying to remove Jesus' body.  They were hopeless, ready to give up, but an angel of the Lord came and moved the stone.  The Apostles came running and found the tomb empty, Jesus had conquered death just as he said he would; their burdens were lifted!

It took someone else, an angel of the Lord, to lift the burdens of the Apostles.  Much like the Apostles, we all have burdens; burdens too great to conquer on our own.

The man who attended this Easter service was trying to overcome the mistakes of drug addiction.  His struggles with addiction and the mistakes of his previous way of life seemed to be too much for him to bear.

He tells me he had not been to church in years.  I am convinced God led him to Travis Park United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday to share that sermon with him.  The burden was no longer crushing him, for he knew God would place others in his life to help him shoulder the load.  He was hopeful again.  For, with the help of others he would be able to roll away his heavy stones to reveal his prize of sobriety and accomplishment on the other side.