Easter 2008

He is risen, he is risen
Tell it out with joyful voice
He has burst his three days’ prison
Let the whole wide earth rejoice
Death is conquered,
We are free,
Christ has won the victory.

Today, my heart sings a new song of “Yay!!!!!!!!!”

I am so happy it’s Easter! I’m so happy to have the music! I am joyous at hearing the bells again! I am so happy to have participated in baptisms! It is exciting to know that I do not have to live in shame, fear, and I can be free! And alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And on this day, I remember my father, who I know is with all the saints rejoicing in this special celebratory day.

And I want to give a shout out to my Pagan friends who are also celebrating Ostara this weekend, the return of the Sun to give us light for longer days. Although our paths diverge, and split and take us in different ways…I say, “Blessed Be” for growing light in the world.

Today does feel like a renewal for me. It feels like…well….more like a Christmas or a New Year’s or something like that. It feels like my soul has lots of light and air. I can live and be in the world in a way that is more alive than before.

I go back to the title of this blog: Wake up and Live. My favorite lyrics from that song:

Wake up and live
Show the stuff yer made of!
Just follow through;
What are you afraid of?
You’ll try it won’t ya?
Why don’t you wake up and live!

And while I praise God from whom all blessings flow, I encourage anyone reading this to remember that it does not matter to me how anyone of us arrives at the destination of the ultimate peace, love and happiness party. The most important thing is the discovery that there are paths out of the darkness and for you to take the steps into the light and laugh out loud as you do!

Ziggy Marley has a song, “Love is My Religion”. What a great title! And the sentiments of the song ring true: "I don't condemn, I don't convert. This is the calling: have you heard? Bring all the lovers to the fold. No one is gonna lose their soul." Indeed! Heed the call.

Love is my religion!

And my heart beats out, "Yay!!!"