"For me, religion is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die," says Forrest Church. Today in particular, there are plenty of people who point to the pagan roots of Easter, ignoring the idea that pagan practices were also religious practices.
This morning at sunrise I went outside. Birds were loud, the air chill-sweet. Many daffodils opened this past week, crocus flowers still bloom wide, and snowdrops (the flower) are not quite done. How could I avoid thoughts of Easter sunrise services from my youth? Gathering in firstlight, singing in the dawn, sometimes a trumpeter accompanying us, making a joyful noise.
This morning I smiled again, thinking of the notice in Friday's paper of sunrise services to be held at 7:30. Now, there's a non-farm version of sunrise.
Today is the on-paper, official day Bernie retires. My farm-boy husband is still in bed, no worshiper of sunrise. And that's just fine.
Because the"right" time, the specific Earth day time, isn't the point, is it? We gather together in smallest and larger groups as our human response to the return of Springtime, new life, in the absolute, constantly illustrated reality of death. For today, we are alive. Let's notice, and make the experience vibrant. Happy Easter.
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