Here, where the locals call Tulsa "the buckle of the Bible Belt", the Easter symbol is one of Jesus dying on the cross. I can see through most of my adult life, that I have metaphorically seen myself on that cross, experiencing the pain of not enough money to travel and to purchase the "toys" that I have seen my friends do. I link my pain to my family of origin, where my mother lived a frugal life, purchasing only the necessities after growing up in Germany's depression and the culture surrounding that country during WWII. My real beef, however is with a husband of 15 years who probably spent two of those years in gainful employment, the rest was spent in acquiring things to such an extent that our home looking like an episode of "Hoarders". Moving down that timeline, my story includes raising my children as a single mom, primarily without the assistance of child support, and continuing to support my children and their families into adulthood. Is it any wonder I have continued to experience lack in my life.
Rebirth
But, then again, Easter represents rebirth. The grass turns green again, buds, then leaves return on the trees, the earth starts to warm and flowers again sprout from the ground. After struggling through the frozen winter, when everything appears bleak, we are guaranteed rebirth in the springtime. Rebirth (riːˈbɜːθ): A second or new birth, reincarnation. Hmmm...to be borne again... The Christian story of Easter is that Jesus was slain on the cross, but two days later, when female friends and family went to His tomb they found it empty and saw what appeared to be Jesus alive once again, communicating with the women. The Bible further quotes Jesus as saying: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (for my power) - parenthesized verbiage mine. John 14:12 New International Version. We all know about ghosts which are presumed to be spiritual entities in the afterlife. I have had my mother communicate with me while I was in an altered state of consciousness receiving energy work, 8 years after her death. Just as Jesus was seen by mortals in His afterlife, it appears that the Easter message is one of immortality; that we don't have to succumb to the crucifixions of our modern lives.
A Course in Miracles says:
"The journey to the cross should be the last 'useless journey'. Do not dwell upon it, but dismiss it as accomplished. If you can accept it as your own last useless journey, you are also free to join my resurrection. Until you do so your life is indeed wasted. It merely re-enacts the separation, the loss of power, the futile attempts of the ego at reparation, and finally the crucifixion of the body, or death. Such repetitions are endless until they are voluntarily given up. Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross'. The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross. Until then you are free to crucify yourself as often as you choose. This is not the Gospel I intended to offer you. We have another journey to undertake, and if you will read these lessons carefully they will help prepare you to undertake it." (Chapter 4- Illusions of the Ego, Introduction, last paragraph).
A lot to ponder!
It would appear that we can learn from our mistakes and forgive ourselves. We can forgive another (not the "you're a putz but I'm so righteous that I bless you with my forgiveness) by putting ourselves in their shoes and remember that when we transgressed another, it was because we were operating from some sort of fear. Further seeing that when we are fearful, what we want most is understanding and support. If that is the case for me, it must be the case for you too.
We strike out in the day taking our past learning as reference for today's activity. An example for me would be my arthritis pain. I wake up in the morning and think about how much pain I will be in once I step foot on the floor. I lay in bed as long as my bladder will allow, so as to delay the onset of pain and hopefully make it to the bathroom before it is too late. I take my experience of yesterday's pain with me into the next day. What if I could know that I don't have to experience pain today? What would it be like to be pain free for an entire day? My expectation of poverty, keeps me impoverished. What if I could choose again?
Again, in A Course in Miracles (Chapt 31, section 8 - Choose once again, paragraphs 4 & 5):
"How do you make the choice? How easily is this explained! You always choose between your weakness and the strength of Christ in you. And what you choose is what you think is real. Simply by never using weakness to direct your actions, you have given it no power. And the light of Christ in you is given charge of everything you do. For you have brought your weakness unto Him, and He has given you His strength instead.
Trials are but lessons that you failed to learn presented once again, so where you made a faulty choice before you now can make a better one, and thus escape all pain that what you chose before has brought to you. In every difficulty, all distress, and each perplexity Christ calls to you and gently says, 'My brother, choose again'. He would not leave one source of pain unhealed, nor any image left to veil the truth. He would remove all misery from you whom God created altar unto joy. He would not leave you comfortless, alone in dreams of hell, but would releasehides His face from you. His holiness is yours because He is the only Power that is real in you. His strength is yours because He is the Self That God created as His only Son."
Happy reserection to all this Easter! I think I'll make little easter baskets with cute little bunnies in them....
