I had a really good Easter. Not just the holiday but the whole weekend. For the first time...I think, ever, I work for a company that takes Good Friday off. Very cool. But I couldn't just use it as an excuse to sleep in and watch Price is Right. No, I figured I should at least say thanks for the above mentioned job and the many other blessings around me.
I never made it to mass. Friday, Saturday or Sunday. So I suppose I'm doomed in that respect. But we participated in a very unique local Good Friday ritual, which I never would have expected. At a local church atop a large hill overlooking the city, are no less than 85 steps leading to it's front door. As you mount each step with a few hundred others, you say a prayer, or ponder, reflect, or just stay quiet and listen to everything around you. I found myself relying on the ole' standby's initially. A few Hail Marys, a few Our Fathers. Then as time went on, I found myself just talking: asking for things we truly want or need, saying thanks for the things we have. Then I tried to conjur up the scene 2006 years ago as He gave Himself up and carried his cross to his final destruction. Thoughts turned to those who have passed, Grandparents, my own father, Staz's family, like her uncle and Grandfather as well. Even her old biker friend gone but not forgotten.
Lastly, I prayed for Staz standing next to me, for relief from her pain so we could finish this trek. For her complete healing and recovery so she could ride a bike, dance, and laugh again. The culmination was to end up exactly where we started, 6 years ago.
It was just a neat experience, much more so than I expected. And one we may even repeat next year.
Not to pound on the religion theme too much, but hey, deal with it. I was reading some stuff about the new gnostic gospels and how Judas was more of a facillitator than a traitor. Interestingly enough, I don't have a problem with this. In fact, it clears up a lot. I've always felt that everything that happened on that fateful day HAD to happen. Jesus knew he HAD to die, and therefore HAD to be betrayed by someone. The Romans HAD to let it happen too. Which means that everyone involved, from Judas, to Pilate, played a role and can therefore take some credit for it. A vast Holy conspiracy or just luck? Maybe a little bit of both.
It was a good Easter, but not a great one. C'mon, not ONE chocolate bunny? No bags of jelly beans? I must have cruised three stores the morning after looking for clearance stuff. No luck. Not even a Cadbury egg.