Easter Memories

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When I asked at the beginning of a recent meeting for people's favorite Easter memories, they were mostly wonderful stories about children finding eggs, and one horrifying story about Easter rabbits. Those fertility symbols are certainly appropriate for the spring season when the world comes to life. Even the "Easter" word doesn't have solid Christian roots; it was adopted as Christianity spread with it's radical message of a God who was willing to give his own life for the salvation of the world. It follows on the heels of Passover, another salvation story of rescue from slavery in Egypt. There is something about this time of year that gets God all excited to liberate people, and to share the gift of life anew. It is a time of rebirth, and the message is proclaimed even by the longer days (in the Northern Hemisphere.) 


The Easter memory I shared was of listening to a record. We had an old cabinet-style record player with built in speakers. The top slid open, and you could stack records to play. We would play sides one and two of Jesus Christ Star, then flip both records, to play sides three and four. That rock opera is a Holy Week drama, and just barely touches on Easter. I grew up hearing those songs that led to Easter. Between that early memory, and our Holy Week observance at the church, I know full well there is no Easter without Good Friday. There is no new life in the garden without the soil being enriched by earlier death of plants. There is no celebration of spring without the seasonal journey through winter. Before we proclaim, "Christ is Risen from the Dead Alleluia! Alleluia!" we first walk the way of the cross and remember the suffering. The full truth is revealed in the juxtaposition of the two. It's a lesson that serves me well year round and one I relearn each Easter. 
Originally published in our Trinity Day School Newsletter

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