Celebrating Easter

Easter is upon us, once more, and many people of different cultural backgrounds, and countries are celebrating one main event.  The death and resurrection of Jesus, whom is the Son of God.
Now, many have different opinions in regards to if Jesus is indeed real, or if He really existed?  Others consider Him, a prophet of some sort, while others simply choose to deny His existence, less have faith on the unseen and unknown.
In the end, I believe, that no matter what I were to say or do, I cannot reach into every person's heart and make them believe forcibaly as a few religious and non religious sects tend to do.  I just know that I will continue to respect my neighbor, be it man, woman, child, teenager, and overall, just love you for who you are, and not judge you in regards to your own beliefs or faith.
Now, I am not a preacher less a pastor, pretty much I am growing Christian whom is still on the path of learning and gaining insight on His Kingdom.  So, if you were to take a look into my life, and for example:
You catch me smoking a cigarrette, or drinking a cup of wine or a bottle of beer
If you base the assumption on what you see, then you my friend, will be mislead, into thinking," Look at her, she calls herself christian, yet she is doing so and so, yeah right!"
Now, I will not argue this point and just say, to a certain degree, we all judge by what our eyes can see, and its easy to assume that we can come to know more by looking and observing someone verses talking to them.
I have stated in the beginning, that for some reason, anyone that considers themselves Christian, or of any other faith, those surrounding that person, tend to hold this person to higher standards and expects them to live a life of a saint.  Well, that perception is so wrong, and way off, because, like it or not, we still continue living as most human beings do.
 We are not inmmune to the things of this world, what truly changes in time, is the person's heart, as he or she realizes that its not so much about going to a building called," church", or staying put, while a pastor preaches, in spite of a complaining stomach, nor reading any holy book, that makes a person a christian, its more the relationship you develop one on one with God.
  I could list all my sins on here if I liked but in the end, it really would not serve its purpose, as He has forgiven me each time I have confessed to Him directly, with a humbled heart.
 So, in the end, during Easter, or " Holy week", many people tend to come on out to any church to check them out, and at times, they find themselves returning to the church they visit, while others simply go to church, to just show off their new clothing, and once Easter is done with, they simply go back to living and rarely going back to church at all.
  It happens, I know.  No one will ever be a saint, even those considered as saints, have had blunders in their own lives, but its not like we are all going to come on out and say," Oh I did this and this the other day."
 As I recall, during my childhood years, Easter was a time in which we would get out of the house and go on a retreat, wthout my dad, so it was one of the few times, I would feel safe.
 I enjoyed the retreat, as we would see old friends and make new ones, but more so the food they had for us each day.
 We would go to farms and milk cows, pet goats and buy milk!  I believe, as a child, we have an easier time accepting things then when we grow older, and mature more.
 In the end, Easter, has been turned inside out, and even those who do not believe in God celebrate it, with the Easter bunny and egg hunts.  Which is not a bad thing, yet I find it particulary interesting that this goes on, during a festivity that is so focused on a man, who came to earth, and lived among His people, to only rejected, tortured and killed, on behalf of political and religious beliefs.
  In the end, I am not here to say to you," Believe!" or "Repent!" less will you see me on the streets hitting people on their heads with a big bible!
  This will be the first Easter that my daughter and I will celebrate on our own, without my parents.  And I hope to be able to relay the message to her and for her to accept it, or not, but mainly to cherish each moment I have with her before she gets older.
    I am not sure I have made any sense, my apologies, just writing down things as they come to mind.
        Enjoy this weekend with your loved ones, hold them close, and blessings to all!
                            
                  Angel 4 Eternity