Action 296 - Find The Joy Of Easter.

I make no secret of the fact that I am not really on solid ground these days spiritually. I have two issues I struggle with. One, the line between the tangible world and the ethereal idea of an afterlife. Emotionally, I want to believe in Heaven and a world after this one. Realistically, I understand those beliefs make me sound no more evolved than the ancient Greeks or Mayans praying to gods of war, crops and weather. I have yet to find a way to bridge the gap between those two, but I remain open to the exploration and effort.

The second issue, though, is far more difficult to overcome. I struggle to understand the ever-widening gap between the love and grace of spirituality and the hate and greed of modern religion. Where I hope to see love and compassion, instead I see self-righteous anger and crass materialism. I have never felt so distanced from the institutions of religion in my entire life.

Today's action, then, is not something I can claim as intending to do. My current cynicism and disgust with all things mega-church would not let me even entertain the idea. But these things somehow work themselves out.

Action 296 - Find The Joy Of Easter. I awakened this morning to a Facebook newsfeed littered with the expected announcements of a holiday morning. There were the usual posts about children and candy, family gatherings and church attendance.

What demanded my attention, though, was the repetition of honest, simple, and beautiful messages of love and hope. My diverse circle of friends offered me a series of posts that reminded me of the simple message of Easter, a moment of resurrection and rebirth. They each shared words of love, redemption, and hope.

I post this today not to take away from the importance of Easter to my devout and faithful Christian friends. I post this as a heartfelt thank you to all of you who shared your faith and your love with the rest of us and did so with no other intention than to bring us a bit of light and spirituality.

You are my joy of this holiday. And I am thankful to whatever force, be it natural or supernatural, that brought and keeps you in my life. I do not know where my own spiritual path leads, but I am grateful for each of you that have staked out your own place along it.

A joyous Easter to you all!