Many people I know are in a tizzy about Easter: stations of the cross, endless vigils and dinners and foot washings and...
Many are also fretting over Seder.
For me, this is just another borrowed season from our far more ancient past. Traditions stamped on top of prehistoric rituals and observations. No one knows or can agree on how long Christ stayed in his tomb or how much blood to put on your door frames, but no one disputes the pagan origins of observing eggs and rabbits, or the sprouting of blossoms and buds.
I abhor pastels and "baby" colors. I prefer the bold and bright, not the faded and the pale. Commit to something, even color. For example, if you're going to have pink, make it a shocking pink, not the washed out hues of a poorly dyed egg or a piece of candy. This dislike of pastels goes to the root of my dislike of the particular time in the Judeo-Christian calendar.
People swath themselves in pale colors and talk of sacrifice, but they don't commit like they do during the winter holidays; days covered in dark reds, greens, and blues. You never hear talk of caring for the poor in March or April. No one gives Easter Baskets to needy families; baskets full of food and clothing like the boxes people trip over themselves to get out during Christmas, Hanukkah, and Yule.
Foot washing during Easter is all the rage these days, and yes, it does show compassion. But a suggestion for the foot washers: followup up this act of humility with a tangible gift for those you serve. Food. Clothing. Rent. Medical assistance. Counseling. Something more than touching a foot.
Look into the dark heart of winter for the way to observe the pale lights of spring. Do more than just share a cup of blood and wash a dirty foot. Get to the root of the pain and find a way to end it. God is in the mercy, not baskets of candy or tables filled with prescriptive food.
