It's Resurrection Sunday, another chance to connect with the East Coast Family, before setting out for Clewiston, Florida (a town that is only four square miles and boasts such enticements as pig popsicles, 100 % humidity, and the nicest people you'll ever want to meet).  The weather is impeccable, today.  Every where you look, trees are burgeoning, and the flowering shrubs are Easter Egg Purple, Yellow and Pink.  In moments I will be at my mother's house, where the inevitable drama and overeating promises to create lasting memories, or at the very least, indigestion.  For once, I am not focusing on my feelings about the impending move, but rather floating with it. Dave approaches me with news, "My mother called and explained that she will not be able to visit us as often as originally planned.  Jesse's car is sidelined and they have to share one vehicle."  "Of course," I blurt out, sarcastically, but with a gentle smiling tone.  Next, my dad, "I won't be flying out to help you adjust to your move. I took a job in Philadelphia."  One by one, my crutches are being yanked out from under me.  My friend Teresa says to me, "Remember when Jesus approached Andrew and Peter, in their boats, and asked them to lay down their nets and follow Him?"  "Yes," I answer meekly, with hesitation.  "They were fishermen.  Their livelihood revolved around their nets," she continued.  "Sometimes Jesus wants us to give up our safety nets."  Ok, a bit punny, but true.  What a challenging Resurrection Day concept-letting God give us a new life.

Good Friday is so good.  There is no hefty Anglo Santa, dressed in red velour driving a team of flying reindeer, nor is there an amazon bunny toting marshmallow chicks and psychedelic eggs (I mean really? Why does every Christian holiday have be have some kind of mascot on Nitrous Oxide?).  On Good Friday, no one demands copious amounts of candy or feels disappointed when their gift list isn't fulfilled.  It's not even a holiday about community, family, and generosity.  No nominal Christian, Agnostic or Atheist can jump on this bandwagon. Good Friday is a day when people from all over stop what they are doing, and get solemn.  When, the faithful take the time to connect with the past, and recall what was happening 2,000 + yrs. ago, at noon, on a small hill called the Skull, where OUR best friend was unjustly executed in front of a public audience of jeering crowds. Snapshots of a bloodied man, wine mixed with poison, our BELOVED crying out for His Daddy.  This is a day of power.  It is a day when, our GOD bled and died, naked, between two criminals.  You can't get around this day.  It's not like Thanksgiving where the object is to glut yourself with food and relationship.  It is a day when you must decide, will I stand alone for my beliefs?  Will I carry my own cross, and yield up everything that I have been given to the Giver, trusting that He will give it back?  As the sky darkens on this day, and we remember the eclipse, are we prepared to have our temple curtain shredded, in order to truly gain access to LIFE?