No Easter Day church services. No large gatherings for sunrise masses. Children won’t be looking for eggs. Women won’t be dressed in a rainbow of vibrant colored gowns with their lovely bonnets. Families won’t be getting together for traditional Easter meals of hams and other fixings with large groups. Most customs and traditions temporarily suspended.
This will be the case for a good majority of Americans, all in the hope of minimizing the spread and infection rate of COVID-19, thereby terminating the current pandemic. Some church services are being offered via Virtual internet hookups, and I myself will be spending Easter alone.
The more I think about it, this is a perfect time for reflection, and for prayer itself. This major disruption to our everyday lives offers a great opportunity to take personal inventory and to do some of the things we were too busy to do before. To stop and smell the white lilies as they say. Maybe connect with those that we didn’t connect with so well before. Spend more quality time with our children. More quality time with our spouses. Or just quality time to work on ourselves. Since I live alone, that’s what I’m doing.
This also might be a good time to let go of some of the divisive partisan views and finger pointing and invest that same energy in pulling together as a people, as a nation, as ONE, as we fight a common enemy. First, we have to get past the biggest health-care crisis in modern history; then, we have to get our country back to work. Now is an excellent time to be part of the solution, not the problem. Billionaire Mark Cuban just announced that if called upon, he would gladly serve on an economic task force for the administration.
The one thing I do know is that as Americans, we are at our best when facing tremendous challenges. When faced with adversity and troubled waters, that’s when we truly shine. It’s in our national character and in our DNA. It is part and fabric of who we are as a people. We are a tough and resilient people with a rich history and we are geared for rising to challenges.
So let’s all pray … and/or meditate on those things we cherish the most. Let’s all be civil and kind to one another. Let’s smile and be patient … and tolerant of our differences.
We can all celebrate Easter together as we embrace our common good and decency. Let this Easter bring us light and hope and healing … and celebration. And remember, with Faith there is hope. We will get through this and will come out on the other end with a renewed sense of purpose and a renewed energy as we fire up the engines of our local economies.
May you and your family have a blessed Easter! For those of you who celebrate either Passover or Ramadan, many rich blessings are bestowed upon you at this time.
PW