Easter means many thing to people. For some its an excuse to gorge on chocolate a peeps (a personal favorite). For some its a time for family, fun and watching the Ten Commandments on TV. (This was mostly what my childhood was like, mind you.)
But something happened to me a couple of years ago when I went to Wal-mart the day before Easter. I needed some ingredients for a supper I was making for my Mom and Dad. I had no idea that this would be the last Easter I would spend with my Mom. But that’s another story. As I walked into the super store, people were running around crazily, buying baskets, ribbons, and chocolate. Stuffed bunnies were stacked along with stuffed chicks in carts and people were nearly running each other over to get the now discounted items before the big day.
Normally I would ignore all this chaos and just go get my spices and get out of there. But a feeling overwhelmed me and I nearly broke into tears in the middle of the aisle. These people don’t get it. They really, really don’t get it. Now, don’t me wrong, there could have been Christians in there getting bunnies and baskets and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that aspect of Easter. But I didn’t get the impression as they hoarded their peeps that they cared very little about the empty tomb, the cost and sacrifice that was given to allow them the chance to get more from life than a box of sugar covered marshmallows.
The point to all this isn’t that people don’t really get it. You already knew that. The point was that it bothered me. It really, really bothered me. So either I have grown up and suddenly loved mankind more or God has finally penetrated the crunchy candy exterior around my heart. I am thinking the latter, because frankly, as I get older I dislike people more under my own power. But with God’s influence, I love them more. Freaky huh?
So, I got my stuff, and drove home to my husband who was mystified at my tears streaming down my face as I carried in my little plastic sack from “The Walmarts”.
I told him what happened and he smiled at me. I told him it wasn’t funny, but he said he didn’t think it was funny, he just thought it was something he would never see from me. Back story, as a group, people annoy me. I yell when I drive. I call people names on the TV that are stupid. I have a real problem loving thy neighbor. So, yes, this was miraculous.
So as you eat your peeps (still ok with them by the way), watch Ten Commandments, and watch your kids color Easter eggs, please remember that a divine being decided that all us annoying people, those that yell at people when they drive, fight over discount chocolate at “the walmarts” and watch too much reality TV, are worth saving and loving. This particular divine being became a person like us, that more than likely felt like yelling at stupid people (since he was divine that meant everyone), smacking his disciples around and saying FIGURE IT OUT, but acted perfectly and lived a sinless life. Then, get this, he LET the Jews and the Romans, beat him up, strip him naked, drag him through the street and nail him to a cross so we would have the chance to not be stupid people in God’s eyes. He, on purpose mind you, because he could have stopped all this at any time, died and went into the tomb for three days. I hate going into funeral homes, let alone going into a grave, on purpose.
He did it for us. For the woman that yells at her kids at the walmarts, for everyone.
That is what Easter is all about Charlie Brown.