Don't Just Wake Up, RISE UP!

Keeping with my “time is moving so swiftly” theme (perhaps an obsession at this point) another event has seemed to appear suddenly, out of nowhere — EASTER!

Easter as a non-denominational holiday carries with it all of the same themes and concepts as last week’s coming of spring — renewal, rebirth, rejuvenation. Add to it Christianity’s major theme for the day — resurrection, and it becomes a pretty significant opportunity for a review and, if necessary, a complete re-set on our intentions for the life path we are on.

Recently, I wrote about a phrase that my sixth grade teacher used to scold us — or encourage us, depending on your perspective — “wake up, it's time to live!” Well somehow I did in fact slip back into a bit of a doze — during which it never occurred to me to think about an Easter reflection, event or theme for 2024!

Now, "on the fly" as I write this post, I find myself thinking about the day’s most powerful theme: resurrection. This is where I am landing for me. Resurrection is more than just renewing and rejuvenating my strongest beliefs and traits. Resurrection is about reflecting, with compassionate honesty, on what parts of my life — and my living — have died. What are those areas, relationships, behaviors, or beliefs I have lost or let go of, that I must face, and grieve? And how, with grace and confidence, will I rise from the ashes of the death of their places in my life?

Naturally, because these ideas have come to me in real time as I write, I have not as of yet articulated the specifics of these deaths and the ways I envision “coming back to life” after their loss. So I offer these questions and insights to you as prompts that might help you jump start, or continue, your own Easter reflections and envisioning about your own life. Use them or not as you see appropriate, relevant, or resonant.

For Easter 2024, I am revising and expanding that old call of my sixth grade teacher from so long ago:

“DON’T JUST WAKE UP, RISE UP!

RISE UP FROM THE ASHES OF YOUR LIFE’S MANY DEATHS,

IT IS TIME TO LIVE ANEW WITH HOPE, JOY AND PEACE!“  

Happy Easter, Friends!