I Wish We Celebrated Easter a Little Differently

Easter.

I believe it should be our most significant holiday, but Christmas seems to get all the attention.

Even if you are not a Christian, or even a religious individual, it is hard to argue that the life and events celebrated at Easter did not have a far reaching effect on history.  If you are a Christian, it also represents the fulfillment of God's plan to reconcile his creation back to himself through the ultimate sacrifice.  The riff wasn't even God's fault, but God fixed it.

Yet, we celebrate it with chocolate fertility symbols bunnies and eggs.

I heard the Easter message I remember most in the state of Virginia, we were there visiting.  I want to say I was 16 or so.  The pastor was a huge history buff, and had researched how the Romans treated their prisoners.  He was also a good story teller, and created pictures of big burly soldiers with whips and hammers in my head. I now carry an internal narrative of the Easter events that rips me apart any time I think about it.

And then there are the bunnies. 

It strikes an odd chord in my thoughts.  I am not trying Jesus Juke anyone, or take away the fun that a holiday is suppose to bring.  Afterall, Easter is a happy occasion.  The good guys won.  Dance, laugh, sing, shout!

But bunnies?  

I do wish we would celebrate it a bit differently sometimes.

Maybe I'm just bad about holidays, Christmas trees make me scratch my head too.

I admit I was a little nervous to make this picture, and probably more nervous to post it.  But, I did, and not lightly either.  I almost talked myself out of it.

Maybe it produces the same cognitive dissonance,  that little hint of discomfort that I feel whenever I see an Easter basket.