Some years ago I stood before my grandparents grave’s in
Altoona/Walnut Grove, Al Cemetery. I
stood there and in my head these words were so clear. Happy Easter. I knew in
that moment that they were home. Not in a cemetery. I could stand there and
maybe in some way that we don’t yet understand there was a connection between
this reflection of a greater world and the actual world of spirit.
All I know for sure is that they are safe. A part of a Great Cloud of
Witnesses. In my very spirit. In the silence of my own mind and the middle of
the night or the middle of a summer’s day I know. I’m thankful.
I’m not much of a bible thumping, fundamentalist these days.
Matter of fact I keep most of what I believe to myself or to a few people in
like minded facebook groups or the times I run my wife crazy with a rant on
reality. Don’t ask. J
We just don’t always agree these days on the mysteries of the universe. But,
that’s okay. So, my thoughts don't come from a place of my way or the highway. It's part of my journey. One of the few things I think I know is that one size doesn't fit all. But, this is a part of my experience.
Some years ago a friend in Colorado who I respect made a
statement while we were talking. He casually said something about us “not being
Christians.” He was rather surprised when I said “But, I am a Christian.” I
guess he was surprised because honestly? The Southern Baptist Church where I
was baptized as a child would at the very least consider my views heretical as
would my grandmother’s Church Of God. My friend just assumed given my very
liberal view on culture, religion and politics that I couldn’t be a Right wing
republican version of a Christian. He was and is right about that. But, I did grow up in the family and I'm not so far removed as to be alien to it.
Anyway, there are two things that have remained precious to
me in my journey through life. One is
communion. No, contrary to the atheist and intelligentsia I don’t literally
believe the body of Christ is in my hand or my mouth. But, on the other hand I
honestly believe the body and the blood of Christ is taken into my own body
symbolically, spiritually and with much hope. You don’t have to take communion
or be a Christian or even be a religious person for me to respect your journey.
This is more than likely the only place where those fellow travelers of my
youth would still agree with me. So, I’m not trying to defend or attack
religion.
The second and most important thing I’ve taken from my
journey and still hold onto is Easter. I say Easter instead of resurrection because
of the literal and fundamentalist mindset that entails. I don’t recite creeds.
I don’t personally think bodies and molecules and sexual parts knit back
together in some magical way on judgement day. But, remember my take on
communion? Same thing. I believe the reality of Christ as the elder brother who
stepped into this reality for a while and showed the way to honor and love this
life while holding to the most important part of it. The preparation for our
real home. Narnia, Heaven, Afterlife, Pure consciousness. So, anyway as I look
on this season I’m not interested in the arguments for stopping the pagan holiday.
I have no problems with pagans myself. J
I’m not interested in convincing anybody of anything. I’m just thankful.
Thankful that it’s a Happy Easter for my grandparents. Thankful that Easter
comes to us all. I hold to that.
So, from this heretic. This “liberal.” This spirit in need
of angels on my way home I say:
He is Risen. He is risen indeed.
Peace!
