Revisiting the Easter Story

Happy Easter!

Easter came early this year. The earliest it has been for a number of years. From what I hear, it's the earliest it will be for a number of years more.

I remembered the "true meaning" of Easter. Of course, I did.

I also remembered the laundry, the floors that needed to be swept, the lunch that needed to be prepared, the phone calls wishing others a "Happy Easter", a business call and to write on my "To Do" list for next week: Bring out the linens and the whites!

There.... back to Easter.

I opened up my Bible a few moments ago.... yes, check the time of the post .... I hate to admit that the most important part of today came the latest.

I know why we celebrate Easter. Memorized, like the pledge of allegiance, or brushing my teeth half asleep in the morning. I know it all too well that I have forgotten to attach meaning to it at all.

Funny how we do that. We know stories so well we recite them and forget the emotion behind the event. We know people so well we could predict their move before they have a chance to think it on their own...yet, our familiar cadence often produces a stale environment where little love and passion grows. We go through the motions... but, often we are bad actors.

We have to revisit our stories in order to remember the true meaning. In order to feel the spark and experience the gravitating force that slams our hearts back into what is really real.... and not just a memorized story line portraying something that was once real.

Revisit those things that are important to you today... this week... this month. Tell stories with your partner about the times you met and what made the spark ignite from the first moment. Share with others the time you felt a calling or were moved to make a major decision in your life. Even the painful parts of our past hold energy that has propelled us to where we are today. Revisit, relive and give rebirth to yourself today.

Remember the Easter story is in itself a story about the true potential of miracles and the power of kept promises. The same God that rose Jesus from the grave can also preform miracles in you.

Don't let the Easter story, or your own story, go stale. Re-read it and rise with new energy today.

The recipe for luck.

Do you believe in luck?

I often question this. Do we bring about our own good fortune, or is there really a random field of energy that graces a few?

I looked up the four leaf clover this morning. I knew it represented luck, but could not remember what the leaves represented.

According to legend, each leaf represents something.

The first is hope, the second is faith, third is love and fourth represents happiness.

Hope, Faith, Love and Happiness -

Not one of the leaves represents "luck". But, it seems to me that this legend is indicating that the mixture of one's hope, faith, love and happiness is the perfect recipe for luck.

So, like other mysteries in life, I think that if we turn our attention away from "luck" and focus on the ingredients that produce good fortune, we can truly experience joy.

Are you hopeful? Faithful? Loving? Are you doing all that you can to bring happiness into your life and others? Find the leaf that is weakest for you and begin practicing it this week.

Take down the dulcimer.

"Today, like every other day, we wake up empty

and frightened. Don't open the door to the study

and begin reading. Take down the dulcimer.

There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

Let the beauty we love be what we do."

I found this excerpt in the Spirituality And Health magazine for this quarter. Kabir Helminski and Lida Saedian translated these words and many more from "a medieval Islamic ascetic" named Rumi, who is known by many as a philosopher and spiritual guru.

I read this quote over and over again. In the way you are initially attracted to something, these words danced on the page as I sat propped up in the bed last night. I awoke this morning with it on my mind, too.

At first it was because I had no idea what the word "dulcimer" meant. Webster informed me that it was a stringed instrument.

Ahh... now the quote makes sense to my simple brain.

Why does he say we are empty and frightened? And then imply this is a daily feeling?

My interpretation of these words are this:

There are so many ways to enjoy life and and our walk in this world. If we continue to only watch and read about the things we love, and never actually experience it, we will be empty for the rest of this life. The fear lies in our own self conscious behaviors that don't allow us to actually do what we love. We watch sports, but do we throw the football in the yard? I love music, but attempt to play the piano - I'm too afraid - or not enough time.

This week do what Rumi suggests..... put down the books, walk away from the TV and experience your beauty. Then, you will have a full life.