Easter in a foreign land

Today as the whole western world knows is Easter.  The day where we celebrate the resurrection of the King.  As I celebrated my first Easter in this foreign land, I have to report that it was rather uneventful.....  

This morning at 6 AM the day was started with a sunrise service at one of the local towers/temples high atop a mountain.  It was a small gather from what I'm told, I wasn't there of course I was at FBC bedsprings in my normal seat beneath the covers.  At 9:45 however I was out the door and on my way to our meeting place as all of the foreigners were going to gather together to celebrate.  I had dressed up a little bit nicer today than normal for here...after all this was Easter sunday.  Pink skirt, t-shirt, flipflops....beats the normal skirt, t-shirt and Chaucos.  As I rode down the street shotgun in a taxi, I noticed a large number of people out and unusually early (this is a late morning kind of culture and especially if it's a Sunday, their only non-work day).  I think though it was just a warm, sunny day that got them out of bed early.  

I saw no Easter decorations or specials in store windows.  No little girls running about in there dresses or carrying baskets.  Families weren't walking into large buildings with steeples decked out to the nines ready to celebrate.  There were no marquees advertising the pageants or Saturday's hunt.  Nothing.  And I realize that while most of the above represents a very secular display of what we know as Easter, still it's what builds the excitement; reminds us of the day.  

So today, as I rode along in the taxi, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs....HE'S ALIVE!!  I literally wanted to climb to the tallest peak, have a John the B type moment, and proclaim the idols don't hear, or speak or see, but HE IS ALIVE!  He hears, he speaks, he sees, he lives.  

After we had our gathering today, shared the L's supper and dinner I returned home for a normal sunday afternoon nap.  But as I was journaling this afternoon I had this thought of my first Easter here.....

Yes, there are no cute bunnies here, no easter egg hunts.  No Easter frocks and suits.  No special celebrations and dinners.  There have never been Easter traditions and gatherings of families around an Easter meal.  No jellybeans, or PAS easter egg dye, no special services, pageants, or even surprise Easter baskets.  None of that has ever existed here.  

You can take all of that away or never have it to begin with and it honestly leaves you with a dull uneventful weekend, but there is one thing, that has always been here and you cannot take away.  You cannot take away a Savior who died a horrible costly death for the sake of Sin and you cannot take away an empty tomb.  You see all the other idols, all the other gods, are dead.  They do not hear, they do not see, they do not breath.  They cannot heal, or cure or answer prayer, they are dead.  Every idol & god in the entire world is dead, except for one and His tomb is empty....He arose.  

Take it all away.........but we still have Him.  By the Way...."Easter" in this language translated out is "He is Risen Day". 

Beautiful Feet