ONCE UPON AN EASTER

I have lived many Easter seasons. My early years in the choir and lay readers society, and my adult years as an intercessor and counsellor. The years as a member of the choir and lay readers were all about singing Easter songs and reading about the passion of Christ. Wait! As I write this, the word passion jumps at me. The thought of someone feeling so passionately about me to lay down his life so I could live, brings a lot of emotions back. I specifically remember the song the Old Rugged Cross. The image the song paints keeps me sober. I love the lyrics, and I remember one of my mentors always rendering the same on Good Fridays. The season of lent culminates on Easter Sunday or better still resurrection Sunday. But before we get that far, the Holy Week. Holy Week celebrations for me began on Thursday when we had the last supper. The story; Jesus sent some disciples ahead to prepare a place for him to have the last supper before his death. Back up a bit, earlier, he sent them to the city to get a colt for him to ride. The colt was tied, never been ridden, specially prepared for what nobody was privy to. The instructions were, “go untie the colt, you would be questioned, and your answer should be, the Lord is in need, and the colt is on duty.” Go with me in your mind, please. Imagine the colt was a human being. He had a sense of purpose, and every time he quizzed the master, he would be told wait. After years of feeling ready, he resigned to being tied to one spot. His heart was right, but a bit confused.