The Easter season, like all holidays, means something different to everyone. For Christians like myself, it’s the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. For others, it’s a time to scarf down Peeps and watch kids hunt for Easter eggs. For others still, it’s just a time to officially welcome the death of winter and life of spring.
I think it’s all of the above.
Whatever Easter represents, it is undoubtedly a time for family, seasonal enjoyment, and merriment. Like many people, on Saturday I’ll spend time with family from out of town, hopefully enjoying the nearly 80-degree weather by visiting Crandell Park. Sunday morning I’ll be in a church pew singing hymns about that old time religion. Monday I’ll regret a Peeps-eating contest with my brother from the day before.
I know many County Journal readers will partake in similar traditions and activities.
The older I get the more I’ve learned not to put holidays and the changing of seasons into a box. Easter and Christmas have deep, passionate purposes of faith for my family and friends. Even so, we make our way out to the Droscha Family Dairy so I can watch my cousins’ kids look in absurd places for Easter eggs and candy. My friends without faith or religion celebrate Easter as more of a belated Spring Equinox (because realistically Michigan spring never starts on the correct date) that still has its own meanings of death and new life, during which they’ll gather with family to give thanks, and ask me later how my church service was. Tradition, lack of tradition; religion, no religion — everyone celebrates these holidays in their own ways.
I am, like many people, still trying to wrap my mind around the apparently growing divisions in our country. When I look at people in our communities I’m shocked that the country can be so divided when there’s such great unity in small, Midwest towns. Obviously differences and divisions exist everywhere. We can’t ignore the ways we still have to become more unified at home. And that’s just another purpose of holidays. Enjoying what we’ve always done, while appreciating what others choose to do.
So this Easter I challenge readers to ask a neighbor, coworker, barista, waiter, or any other variation of casual acquaintance what he or she is doing for the holiday. Listen, internalize, discuss, understand, and celebrate over a Peep … or a chocolate bunny if you find Peeps disgusting. Simply put, enjoy this Easter season; spring, peeps, Jesus and all.
