Happy Easter. This is one of those mornings that make me feel good.

[Cyrano]

I am an agnostic. But watching my neighbors and acquaintances going to church, and celebrating their holiday, fills me with a sense of hope. Whatever biases/prejudices some of them may have, seem to have been put on the shelf for this one single, solitary moment.

And if they can let it go for this one special day, perhaps they can let it go permanently. Many of them are at church at this very moment, and are hopefully hearing sermons regarding tolerance and love.

We know there are many bigots among them, but I wonder if their intolerance gene may have gone silent for this brief moment in time.

Perhaps I’m just kidding myself about the power of one day of true belief. But all of us tend to be fools in one way or another. And maybe – someday, the concept of tolerance I’m expressing will come to be a reality. Then again, perhaps I’m just an idiot in search of a sane world that will never exist.

But no matter. Right now, enjoy your Easter holiday my friends. And please, please, try to live your lives in the spirit of what this holiday is meant to be.

[blondeatlast]

1. We should all find something to celebrate in every day. It's a lovely day today, family is coming

over, the desert sage isn't aggravating my allergies too much thanks to (yes, I'm gonna say it) Big Pharma, and oh, yeah--what you said.

Hapyy Easter/Eostre, April 24th, lovely (or not) Sunday morning--or whatever else you want to find some joy in.

Great post, Cyrano. k/r. Now, let's choose up sides and snarkl about what's really important: Olive Garden.

[blondeatlast]

3. The entire reason we celebrate Spring is that it indeed is a time when hope is restored.

The weather warms up, the days become longer, the crops produce and the flowers bloom. Whatever we want to name it, it's truly a physical and psychological phenomenon and those who can only find division and mockery aren't seeing hope.

Happy Whatever, Dammit!

[Cyrano]

5. It's a time when love, tolerance and life are in the air.

I pity those who spend their time hating during this season of life.

[michaz]

2. Nice job! Well said. n/t

[Cyrano]

4. Thank you, michaz. I was speaking from (my agnotic) heart of this season of renewed life.

[Faygo Kid]

6. I enjoyed that. My Easter is tougher this year.

My uncle just died and I can't get back to the state for the funeral, because I just got reorganized out of a job last week and only have this week to put in for others in the new structure. I'm completely bummed out; family is so important, but my current life and those who depend upon me are also at stake here.

Happy Easter.

[blondeatlast]

8. Faygo, for you:

:hug:

[Faygo Kid]

12. Thanks. It's called Life, I guess.

I have gone back and forth on this, and am willing to spend the money to go back, but I need to do everything I can to try and keep a job. I am sure he would understand; he was a good egg. I am going to put him and his family first this Easter Sunday, however, over the job/resume process (flowers, donations, contacts). If I am going to miss his funeral, that's the least I can do; I will carve time out of my work week for the other (which was frankly unexpected). Thanks for the hug. We can all use them whatever the situation.

[notadmblnd]

7. tell me, what you think "The spirit of what this holiday is meant to be"?

This is what I think it is supposed to be- a message to individuals (not meant to bring people together) to get them to tow the line and behave.

A celebration of the resurrection of a man who, after 3 days rises from the grave, visits his friends and ascends to heaven a month or so later? I think it is a religious tenet that is supposed to give us all hope- that in our deaths we will someday rise and ascend to heaven too?

I don't believe in a heaven or a hell so I won't be in either place after I die. But I am sincerely interested if there is another message that people get from the story.

[Cyrano]

14. I'm no more religious than you.

I don't believe in the rising up after three days and I don't believe in heaven, hell, or any of the other dogma that goes along with it.

But I do believe that most who truly do believe have much goodness in them and can help make the world a better place. And many of them don't "toe-the-line" when told what it is they're suppose to believe. Many are good people who think for themselves and want to see a better world as much as we do.

[Peacetrain]

9. Good Easter Cyrano..

Thank you for your good wishes for us today.. and the same for you!

[hlthe2b]

10. Good post. Thank you

I'm glad to see Duers reach out with sensitivity and respect to those who find the day to be especially meaningful.

[seabeyond]

11. reality is, as much as i see an intolerance or bigotry in a christian, i have seen it in those that

have no religion. to pretend the ugliness comes from a religion as opposed to character is not accurate, from what i see. some just use religion for their ugliness. some need to excuse for their ugliness.

[intaglio]

13. Please remeber it is also Passover n/t