A New Easter

When I was growing up, Easter was about eggs and bunnies, candy and clothes. And church.

Easter was an event. We bought new clothes. We dyed hard-boiled eggs which were hiding all over the house on Easter morning. We also had Easter baskets full of candy on a bed of green plastic “grass.” We got up while it was still dark to drive to an Easter sunrise service with special music.

I knew specific facts about Easter that fit with the specific facts I knew about the rest of what, and how, I believed.

I cannot remember a year in which I have not heard at least part of the story of Easter in a church. There were times when I felt tired of hearing it, bored, when I thought I already knew all the details of the story.

The way I appreciate Easter has changed along with the way I appreciate spirituality.

Slowly, I began to realize that already knowing the details of the story did not mean that I had everything the story could give. For me, my realization blossomed into new understanding. I began to recognize that knowing the answers was often not as helpful as asking good, honest questions. My questions helped me grow spiritually stronger, not weaker.

My spirituality is about life coming out of death, light glowing in darkness, love transforming indifference. Like some of the witnesses to that first Easter Sunday, our hearts may burn within us.

My Easter has become less of an event, more of a way of living. Each day can be filled with resurrection.

I hope your Easter is saturated with life and light and love, and that it overflows into the other days.

Happy Easter!

Is Easter an event for you?

What are your good, honest questions?

[Image by fdecomite]