Good Friday. Bad Friday. Black Friday. Easter Friday.
Whatever you call it, today is Friday, and the Friday before Easter, no less. I must be a bad person because it was only two days ago that I realized this was Easter weekend. Easter is supposed to be in April, right?
But no; no, it’s not. And I am a bad person, or surely you must think so — you who knows all, sees all, thinks all, is all.
(You were my all . . .)
But I . . . I got off track.
Today is Easter Sunday. But what does that mean? For Christians around the world, it’s the day their Savior died, two days before His resurrection. It’s a day of hope, a day of love, a day of sorrow, a day of repentence. What did we do to deserve this?
(Nothing. We did nothing.)
But what of the others, for whom Easter is brunch and bunnies and eggs and chocolates? What of the population for whom it’s Cadberries and marshmallows and pastel dies and little kid messes? What of those for whom it’s nothing more and nothing less than any other holiday?
And what of the people that don’t celebrate Easter? What of those who’ve never heard of it?
I have to admit, I’m a little distant these days. A little remote. A little confused. The worldview I held as a child doesn’t compute anymore. Where is God, how is He, and Who? I grew up Protestant Christian and truly still believe. But the God I see now is bigger than I imagined — His message not limited by culture or geography. “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy-ladened. I will give you rest.” “I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you.” “Love God and love others as yourself.”
Be kind, rewind.
It’s all the same, isn’t it? The principles of kindness and courtesy run the gamut across cultures. They are received and returned the same way. And God is bigger than a book, or a church, or a person. God is LOVE, and is there anything larger than that?
shift 
There is something about this time of year, that while spring is in the air and things are blooming, I too begin to wonder “why?” There is such a world that many times I am not sure I recognize anymore. I sometimes think it is because I like to keep things simple…and it is nice to be simple, but it seems the world wants a lot more than that. Wishing you a great April ahead, and sure do hope to see a few more of your posts. Take care Jess.
As you probably know Jess, I am a Freethinking Humanist, not Christian. Although I grew up around family, school mates, friends, etc, that were moderate Methodists to full-blown charismatic non-Denom Evangy-Fundies with ‘speaking in tongues, instant faith-healings‘ truly wishing for Rapture to come ASAP! I live in Texas, where guns and bibles go in both hands! (wink & laughs) I also attended years of seminary in pursuit of a master’s in marriage & family therapy WHILE leading our church’s singles ministry. Surprise! (chuckles</em)
However, I do celebrate Eostre… the "pagan" Spring/Fertility Festival in which the Catholic calendar-Easter is based upon — the church actually took on MANY pagan/Gentile festivals in order to not be so discrimanent for the new Yeshua/Jesus Movement (and others) during the 2nd & 3rd centuries CE. The old Judean religions were extremely "exclusive" with many Mosaic laws, etc. Okay, apologies for the quick history lesson! (humbly bows)
That is so VERY VERY true Jess! Bravo! One of my favorite quotes is from a Harvard grad and world-renown Naturalist…
Anything which teaches/preaches exclusion, separation, division, fear, death, I think is wrong, hateful, and evil… and should be firmly resisted with empathy, compassion, and forgiveness in order for all humanity to be fully liberated!
Wishing you a VERY fruitful Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Jess! (warm smile)