"Happy Easter"
What an odd greeting when you come to think about it ...
....for a nation that ostensibly has a Christian faith as a state religion ...
('a Christian faith' ... well it seems from this lowly position there are so many to choose from ... and there does seem to be a basic lack of consistency on "detail" ... but that's a ramble for another time) ...
...to wish someone to have a good time when the festival is that time to recollect some poor working sod who was nailed up for basically saying ...
"Why can't we all just be a bit better with each other, I mean, would it be too much to ask for everyone just to take a moment, consider the other guy's position and show a little better grace, eh?"...
..."Happy Easter" ... ? ! ? ...
"Reflective ..." - maybe ...
"Considerate ..." - there's a thought ...
"Selfless ..." - that would be novelty ...
"Happy ..." - nope, just don't fit the picture I've got ...
Still ... it does have it's lighter moments ... consider the younger ratling taken with his elder sibling to village church by my dear better half's parents to enjoy / witness / endure the sermon from the guy in the frock ...
... don't get me wrong ... there is nothing more worthy than caring, loving and bearing witness for one's fellow rat, especially for those poor souls who struggle more than thee ... but there's a chasm between 'doing good stuff' and "Look at us - aren't we doing good stuff - over here, yes us, good stuff, yes?"...
... and after a quarter hour ratling jr becomes bored, gets down from the pew and runs headlong up the central passageway and into the pulpit exclaiming to the world ... "Going to play in the castle ..."
... sometimes I wish I did have not such a strong aversion to houses of religious proclamation ... (then again it's not my fault that the basin of water inside the door boils whenever I cross the threshold) ... still, shows he's a chip of the old rat ...
... elder ratling was mortified by this of course (bright lad but far too sensitive at this time and definitely needs some rough edges knocking into him ...) ... but even more so when jr graciously placed the pound coin he was given by gparents into the collection plate ... with beneficent smile amongst the aged of the parish ... and then proceeded to extract the larger notes from the mammon thereon ...
... now that's my lad ... ensure that you extract payment for your time and valuable resource ... after all being cute and winsome does not come free ... those rosy cheeks won't pinch themselves, you know ...
... still for all this the ratlings do get to see that people can get together and try to do some good stuff ... ignore the fluff and nonsense, strip away the flim-flam and get down the message ... do unto others as you would be done by, as sometime very very soon you might be an 'other' ...
So ... we will have a quiet, contemplative, giving Easter - we work (no public holiday for those who work for the public) and we give - we think of family - and we resolve to do better ...
(and not eat all the chocolate bunnies this weekend)
Have fun
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