The best Easter basket

The assignment for the classroom of first-graders was this: Make an Easter Basket.

Being a kid whom always enjoyed (and still does) those assignments that involve creating and using my imagination, I was excited to get home and get started.

I wanted to do something different, to bring in a basket that would be something no one else would ever do. Therefore, anything that had to do with knitting a basket or weaving one out of colored paper strips was promptly eliminated. I did, however, briefly consider doing something with the basketball net hanging off the hoop on our garage.

Feeling the vibe of my creative energy, my mother began asking questions to guide the process. What is something that could hold an Easter egg? "The plastic thing in the refrigerator," I replied. "OK, what else," said my mother. My baseball glove? A sock? "Well, you wouldn't be able to see the egg in a sock would you?" inquired Mom. Hmmm....I pondered....I thought...I looked around the house......

My grandmother, so wise and so aware and so unassumingly present, called me into her room and said, "Sally, can you help me with something? I'm cleaning out my closet and can you take these old dress shoes of mine downstairs?"

Sure, I said as she nodded at me that yes, I could have a piece of candy from the candy jar. As I walked down the steps...EUREKA! That's it! One of my Gram's old dress shoes would work perfect for a basket! I yelled to my mother, ran down to the kitchen, held up the old dress shoe and said this is what will be my Easter basket! Mom smiled.

Mom gathered the pipe-cleaners and paint and I set about decorating my Gram's old dress shoe. Mom added the finishing touches of the grass and chick, my Gram placed the little Easter hat on the back of the shoe and I smiled.

I still have that Easter basket. It reminds me of my Gram and of my Mom. It speaks the Easter message of that which is old is made new again. The shoe symbolizes the journey of faith I make moving ever forward carried by the saints who have trod the road before me.

Resurrection happens --- to old dress shoes, to tulip bulbs hidden in the ground, to us.....practice Resurrection!

sj;

Noah, the Jewish Film Festival and Twenty Dollars

10 April is the birthday of one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott.

If you have never read her…..sigh…..to remedy might I recommend Traveling Mercies or Help, Thanks, Wow.

In light of this birthday, I figure…sigh….what a perfect day to once again, in the midst of a ridiculously stressed (April is National Stress Awareness Month ---- I’m aware….you?) schedule to once again post to the blog.

I went and saw the film, NOAH. I liked it. I recommend it. Mind, it’s not the Noah of Sunday School nurseries with a kindly, old gentleman with a long, well-groomed white beard, smiling as a pair (of course) of cuddly bears and gregarious giraffes provide the backdrop.

Aronofsky’s NOAH is dark in tone….then again, the story is about the destruction of the world, so if you’re in the mood for a Romantic Comedy….not your film. What I liked about the movie was the statement made about human beings. I found certain bits like how Noah and clan managed to keep all those carnivores from eating the herbivores fascinating. See the film. Discuss. Ponder.

Being a lover of film, I see a lot of movies and always keep my eye out for the variety of film festivals offered in Pittsburgh. A favorite is the Jewish Film Festival and a friend and I went to the debut of the powerful movie, THE GERMAN DOCTOR.

Planning on buying our tickets at the door, we arrived and were told it was a sell-out, yet, we were in luck because there were still a few tickets available. As we approached the ticket window and pulled out our credit cards the cashier stated, “Cash only.” Between us we had $3. Tickets were $10 each. Looking behind us, the line was long and leaving the theater to visit an ATM would mean no chance of getting a ticket.

At that moment, a gentleman whom neither of us knew, pulled out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to me saying, “Here. You’re good for it.”

I was completely blown-away by this act of kindness, generosity and trust from a stranger. How did he know I was “good for it?” Would I be so generous?

There comes a time when one person must trust another.

There comes a time when one person must actively assist another.

There comes a time when one person must simply and profoundly be kind to another.

There is always a choice --- fear or trust, ignore or assist, apathy or kindness.

Choose wisely and build a better world.

sj;

Sprung

Could it be that we have been sprung from the long winter of our discontent? On this the first full day of Spring, I do feel released.

Amazing fact: the Farmer’s Almanac, to which my grandmother referred, referenced and trusted was spot-on accurate about this winter!

At the risk of admitting that a certain softness has crept in --- I must confess that in comparison of the winters experienced in my youth this one wasn’t so bad. Confession number two --- I enjoyed this winter until about mid-February….then I had enough.

Spring is a glorious season! There is something about a long winter that makes spring even sweeter. This morning I made it a point to take note of some little flowers that have bloomed and touched the furry bulb on a magnolia tree --- I needed a few tangible reminders as the snow swirled….sigh…

My favorite quote about spring comes from Anne Lamott who writes, “Spring is when God tarts it up.” Go ahead and make note of and celebrate this season of show-off-ish-ness. Take note of the blooms and the breezes and the birthing. Make time to take in the vibrant colors and the growing greenness.

Whatever the season, we are compelled to live with the intention to notice and to be thankful. Spring with its flowers and colors and life bursting out all over makes it easy to do; the challenge is to do so when God is not so flashy in appearance and when the colors fade and the blooms fall to the ground.

On this start of spring here’s a challenge for each of us --- every day take five minutes and look out that familiar window, on that known street and find something whose beauty makes you pause. Tell someone about it.

Happy Spring!

sj;