Religious Education Update: April 1, 2007
The Spring Holidays
Spring is my favorite season. I love the emerald green hills, the yellow fields of mustard, the wild purple irises, and the baby animals romping next to their moms. The countryside is full of new life and promise; the days are becoming warmer; and the outside world is glorious.
The holidays of spring are celebratory and happy as well. Life overcomes death in Easter, and freedom triumphs over oppression in Passover. I confess, however, that I struggle with the details of the holiday stories. I don't like the part of the Passover story in which a vengeful God kills innocent Egyptian children. I don't believe that a physical body can be restored to life, as is claimed in the Easter story.
Rather than dwell on the factual details, which may have changed over centuries of retelling, I find more of value in what these stories honor, including hope and triumph over adversity. These lessons could be inspiring to UU’s, even if we don’t accept every aspect of the biblical accounts.
Every life has moments of darkness and despair, whether caused by illness, deaths of beloved family members or friends, failures or betrayal. In these difficult times, it may seem impossible to imagine that hope and happiness will ever return. But, through time, the support and love of those closest to us, and personal reflection, the overwhelming weight of sadness generally lifts, and it becomes possible to find joy and comfort again.
For some people, a great sadness may even motivate a new cause for life. A mother who has lost a son to a drunk driver may join Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to prevent more needless deaths. A father who has lost a daughter to war, may become a crusader for peace. A sister of a breast cancer victim, may wear a pink ribbon to support research to fight the disease. Many people find a way to overcome their personal tyrants and to create freedom and triumph in their own lives.
As we celebrate Passover and Easter, may we all find freedom from our own oppressors, and celebrate the blessings of life, family and community.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
Spring is my favorite season. I love the emerald green hills, the yellow fields of mustard, the wild purple irises, and the baby animals romping next to their moms. The countryside is full of new life and promise; the days are becoming warmer; and the outside world is glorious.
The holidays of spring are celebratory and happy as well. Life overcomes death in Easter, and freedom triumphs over oppression in Passover. I confess, however, that I struggle with the details of the holiday stories. I don't like the part of the Passover story in which a vengeful God kills innocent Egyptian children. I don't believe that a physical body can be restored to life, as is claimed in the Easter story.
Rather than dwell on the factual details, which may have changed over centuries of retelling, I find more of value in what these stories honor, including hope and triumph over adversity. These lessons could be inspiring to UU’s, even if we don’t accept every aspect of the biblical accounts.
Every life has moments of darkness and despair, whether caused by illness, deaths of beloved family members or friends, failures or betrayal. In these difficult times, it may seem impossible to imagine that hope and happiness will ever return. But, through time, the support and love of those closest to us, and personal reflection, the overwhelming weight of sadness generally lifts, and it becomes possible to find joy and comfort again.
For some people, a great sadness may even motivate a new cause for life. A mother who has lost a son to a drunk driver may join Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to prevent more needless deaths. A father who has lost a daughter to war, may become a crusader for peace. A sister of a breast cancer victim, may wear a pink ribbon to support research to fight the disease. Many people find a way to overcome their personal tyrants and to create freedom and triumph in their own lives.
As we celebrate Passover and Easter, may we all find freedom from our own oppressors, and celebrate the blessings of life, family and community.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 2:06 PM
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