Easter is the Christian liturgical year’s central feast; it marks Jesus’ resurrection. Easter, in Western Christianity, is a “moveable feast” in that it is the first Sunday after the full moon and can fall between March 22 and April 25. This year, it falls on March 27.

Easter seems to have kept its holy purpose. Churches are full. Pastors admit how good it feels to see so many smiling faces; some s/he sees only once or twice a year. People want to celebrate the joy of new life.

Easter is a symbol of new beginnings; planting flowers and a garden, saying goodbye to winter, planning vacations, anticipating outside sports, finding swimsuits, and going on a diet.

Childhood Easters always found my mother sitting at the sewing machine. We were five of the best-dressed little girls in town. Pink, purple, yellow, and green, with white ruffles. And, we all had new shoes.

The Easter Bunny hid real eggs outside. One Easter morning there wasn’t an egg to be found; neighborhood dogs must have had a feast.

My favorite Easter memories are of sunrise services. For me, nothing compares to watching the sun crest the horizon on Easter morning. Whether the service is among pines, around a lake, at Red Rocks, on top of the buttes, on a hill in the middle of the prairie, or in my back yard, hopefulness and joy engulfs me.

I remember specifically, my dad, sister Patty, and I left around 4:30 a.m., with coffee and directions. After a long drive, we finally saw vehicle lights on top of a far hill. When we arrived, the pastor and his wife were elated to see us because we were the only ones who showed up.

They had taken hymnals, folding chairs, and a keyboard. Even though we were strangers, we had a joyous service. They invited us back to the church basement for breakfast where dozens of people were standing in line for pancakes. We laughed at the irony and visible show of priorities.

Whatever you do for Easter, even if you’re not a Christian, celebrate life; get up, open the curtains, and smile. It is a day to forget worries. It is a day of light. Let the light shine through YOU.

Until the next time: Live while you live!

     (Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of My Clients…My Teachers, and the blogger and encourager of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.)

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