I love Easter. I truly do. I understand that this religious holiday can be challenging for Unitarian Universalists. But I was raised in a Christian home, a BAPTIST home, and I have so many wonderful memories around this holiday. It really isn’t difficult for me to translate it into my Unitarian Universalist beliefs.
I have a 4 and a 5 year old. Today I told them the story I plan on telling this Easter Sunday during worship. The story, which was written by UU minister Chris Jablonski, tells of two bunnies, Flopsy Ears of Numbing Doom and his teacher, Master Poofum, who worked together with the Iron Paw Liberation Front, to free enslaved animals. Master Poofum died in one of their heroic efforts. Flopsy was so grief stricken that he gave up on life, he just couldn’t imagine living and fighting the good fight any longer.
But then he had a vision of his master – his teacher. The vision of Master Poofam reminded him that even though his body was dead, his impact, his lessons, his LIFE LEGACY would live on forever. To me, this is the story of Easter. That, even though the man we have been told of, the man known as Jesus of Nazareth, was killed – he is not dead. He lives on in those who learn from the lessons of his stories and the example he set forth.
Today, I casually sat on the couch with Desi (5) and Casey (4) looking out our den window at butterflies dancing in our backyard garden and I asked Desi, “Do you know about Easter? Do you know what this has to do with Jesus?” And that boy, that little five year old boy, told me, “DUH.” He went on to tell me that Jesus was a man who taught us how to be good people, that we should love each other and treat each other with kindness. And he told me that Jesus was killed. I asked him if he understood the story about Master Poofam. He said he totally understood, that Master Poofam’s body was dead but that he lives on in our hearts, just like Papa and Grandma Aldridge live on in our hearts and that we are nice because they taught us to be nice. Wow. Did I mention that he is FIVE???
I am a Unitarian Universalist Mom and Religious Educator. I love Easter. I love the pageantry of it – the clothes and the baskets and the passion of the children embarking on the hunt for candy and treats. I love the coming together as a community to celebrate LIFE and the amazing, surprising beauty of nature. I love the FOOD – ham, potatoes, casseroles, bread, vegetables, and, in our family, the BUNNY CAKE. I know that not all people share the same fond memories or traditions that I treasure as a member of G.R.I.T.S. (Girl raised in the south.)
But I hope that many folks can gain just a little bit of joy from this moment in time. If we think about it too hard, it certainly is depressing. That a man who crusaded for peace and love and equality was taken down by an evil oppressive regime, well, that doesn’t feel too joyful. But, that he lives on in each of us, that we can indeed be a testament to his teachings, to his living, and to his loving…that we can hold to each other with gentle hands and support one another on this journey towards wholeness, well, that’s pretty cool.
Happy Easter my Loves.
Amen, Sistah! Amazingly well-said.
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