Happy Easter 2022!

Soon, it’ll be Easter – the day that marks the beginning of new life. But, it’s not about new birth or rebirth that I’m referring to. Easter celebrates a distinctly unique new life. It could be the dawn of a new era, a new vision, a new strategy, a new lifestyle, a new mindset, a new companionship, a new orientation, a new schedule, a new means to an end, a new phase of life.

Where I hail from, mythological stories of rebirth are very popular. But, Easter is not about a completely fresh start; it’s about resurrecting a corpse. To me, Easter brings hope – the hope of reattempting to rise despite the odds. It’s about detangling the knots instead of fantasizing about being handed spools of pristine yarn. It’s about salvaging whatever you can of what’s already broken, like Kintsugi, the Japanese form of art that transforms broken objects into divine pieces of art by mending and cementing them with gold.

Jesus rose from the dead not to be reincarnated as a child; His resurrected body bore the scars of trauma and betrayal. He didn’t rise up with a new identity or an unblemished body. He returned as the same Jesus, scars et al …and yet He conquered death!

If you feel the urge to realign something, don’t sulk in despair and excuses. Sure, a pep talk only has the capacity to motivate you until your next motivational quote. But, what happens when the practicality of a situation begins to nag? How do you transcend that to real life?

You could be massively overweight with multiple health issues, many of which may be irreversible. You could have squandered your fortunes like the prodigal son. Let’s assume you’re dealing with a depressing split. Maybe you lost your source of income and have many mouths to feed. Maybe you’re dealing with the most overwhelming form of betrayal. Your work environment could be counter-productive and toxic. Your children may be disgusted and ashamed of your existence. Maybe you’re unable to cope with substance abuse. Your folks may be on the verge of a divorce. Maybe you need funds to support your ambition and are unable to gather them. You could be amidst multiple legal hassles that threaten to leave you bone-dry. Maybe you have no one to call your own. Maybe you feel like an island in the midst of a crowd. You could have been scammed by fraudsters. You may not have a roof over your head. You may have spotted your first wrinkle or grey. Maybe, you lost a loved one. Maybe you attempted IVF for the n^th time. Perhaps you’re suffering from an incurable disease…

So what? Begin exercising and eating right. Maybe you’ve tried before and didn’t follow the routine. It’s Easter; begin anew! You’re not going to get an entirely new body or rewind to infancy. But Easter is the hope that allows you to begin from exactly where you left off. You’ve splurged away your security in lavish opulence, but that doesn’t stop you from earning a living. A breakup isn’t the end of the world; in time, you’ll learn how and why! Review your finances and even if you don’t have pennies to liquidate and juggle, depending on the specifics, you can still find a way to sustain yourself. Treachery and manipulation from the ones you trust the most can teach you valuable life lessons. It can develop your personality, sharpen your observation skills, and give you a realistic insight into human behaviour. An unsatisfactory job may encourage you to take a leap of faith into a triumphant vocation. Your children are separate individuals; they’re not expected to think or behave like you expect them to. Your life must have other avenues and don’t expect them to dedicate their existence to your servitude either. Love with no regrets and expectations, or step away if that’s best. You can still attempt to quit whatever’s holding you in bondage. Your body hasn’t changed; your cells still crave the dopamine rush. Get help; it’s still possible. Remember, children learn to walk after several falls. Do they remember the falls – no. What’s important is – they become mobile! So, your parents are splitting. That’s their choice. You can still find ways to cope. And maybe, you’ll learn from their mistakes – so lesser relationship ordeals for you. Need I say more? You could have lost your health, monies, youth, sanity, joy, and even your peace. But, as long as you have breath, you still have hope – the hope of a resurrection.

To new beginnings! Happy Easter!