GET BUSY LIVING!

Happy Easter! The most optimism filled day of the year.

The Super Bowl of Christianity, but a meaningful day for non-Christians as well, with its messages of sacrifice and rebirth.

And ultimately, optimism – – setting humans apart from animals: A dog never wakes up thinking things will get better.

Even if you consider today merely parable, Jesus’s willingness to become man and give His life to enable eternal life an illustration of the ultimate sacrifice.

Completely selfless, made more stunning because He had a choice: He could have said no.

Thus providing today’s attendant message of rebirth: Rising from the dead to live again.

Hopefully inspiring optimism to plot our personal rebirth, beginning today – our lives a series of Little Easters, challenging ourselves to continue growing every day.

So, lots to think about.

But as God looks down on wildly over-crowded churches – though with virtual services on Zoom, you can build a church for Easter – man’s behavior must be a bit of a head scratcher. 

Most species behaving as intended: Fish gotta fly, Birds gotta swim, Guacamole gotta feed party guests – but man, not so much.

Taking the sanctity of Easter and turning it into egg hunts, fancy church clothes, and brunch at the club – though a Bloody done correctly can be praiseworthy.

But actually less bad than how we treat Christmas…

Despite God’s expectations for man being quite simple: “Behave like Me”!

Being schooled on what “Behave like Me!” entailed was a ‘benefit’ of being raised Catholic  – but some of The Nun’s teaching methods ran counter to His desired behavior.

But even after consulting our pocket Catechism, sometimes a venial – or mortal – sin just seemed like a fun idea.

And Confession like a ‘Get out of jail free’ card.

The whole ‘religion thing’ pretty straightforward – Catholicism meant knowing we were praying to the REAL God, then tasked with praying for the salvation of all the non-believers, which was pretty much everybody who didn’t live in our neighborhood.

Though later learning there were other religions, who apparently thought they were praying to the REAL God too.

However, much of my religious knowledge hearsay – instead of taking Comparative Religions in college, I studied Comparative Taverns.

But over time, realizing religion is the only thing taken more seriously – and polarizing -than politics.

Though college football in a class by itself, still chuckling anyone thought we ‘suicidal Southerners’ wouldn’t play during COVID.   

Fortunately, humans want to live the ‘right way’ – not nearly as hard to figure out as we make it –  religion a way to build community with like thinkers, and find spiritual guidance.

Religions of the world providing a ‘right way’ roadmap – but with cool religious statues, pot-luck suppers, and Saint trading cards.

But like the What could possibly go wrong? of ‘Central Planning’, a little religious skepticism doesn’t hurt: Wait, no meat on Friday? Do I at least get a tote bag when I tithe?, Are you sure about this ‘Death to Infidels’ thing?

So, after digesting that eggs benedict, time to return to today’s central question(s): 

What will I do to make the most of the time I have left?

To continue to be a slightly better version of myself? 

And for motivation to ‘get your rebirth on’, ponder “Why am I still here?” -when so many of those who came before denied the privilege.

Reminding ourselves: Every day a gift from God, and we honor Him – and ourselves – by making the most of it.

Or as Red said to Andy at Shawshank Prison, “Get busy livin’, or get busy dying”.

Happy Easter!

For 221 more posts like this –each with a wish for a hint on the meaning of life– go to beersatthenifty.com. Your phone will display every post, and you can waste an hour or two.

Or send me an email to the site, and I’ll add you to my Sunday distribution.

And I’m now on Substack at justluckytobehere.substack.com. Same stuff, but a different location.

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

While most Easter posts will cite the incredible mid-‘80s collaborations from the Reverend Billy Graham and Ethel Merman: “Jesus, Let’s Disco!” “Billy and Ethel do Dylan!” “The Trinity Sessions” and “Billy and Ethel – Live At Woodstock” I’ve gotta go with Warren Zevon (1947-2003), a musician prominent in the ‘70s-‘90s – who I cite frequently.

I listened to “Warren Zevon” (1976) on my beach walk today, and it’s in the pantheon of all time great first albums. And of course, “Excitable Boy” was a cultural phenomenon.

I’ve added ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead’, ‘Excitable Boy’ (lyrics always make me laugh), ‘Genius’, ‘Werewolves of London’ (find the other FM hits yourself), and ‘Keep Me In Your Heart’ – his farewell remembrance, recorded shortly before his death.

But the best Zevon anecdote: while appearing on Letterman, terminal cancer bearing down, when asked what he’d learned, “Enjoy every sandwich”.