Easter Blessings
We are all standing on the threshold of one of the most recognized Christian celebrations of the year.
For some people, Easter is just a long weekend. Schools, on the other hand, often plan a week’s break for children. For others, the observance of Easter spans several weeks with specific parts including Lent, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost. Devout Christians view Easter as part of a lifelong faith journey.
Not all churchgoers are Christians, and many Christians do not attend organized religious services.
Reginald Bibby, who is known for the research he conducted through the University of Lethbridge, wrote a book called “Fragmented Gods” in which he describes his three-decade study of Canadian beliefs. In it, he claims that Canadians have changed their routines and practices from those of past generations. Instead of attending church services on a weekly basis like our ancestors, we now tend to participate in spiritual activities on demand according to our needs, such as weddings and funerals. Bibby found that people often name their grandparents’ denomination as their own, even if they are not members or active in the denomination.
Canada is classified as a pagan nation, but that does not mean, however, that Canadians do not believe in God or seek spiritual answers, especially in difficult times.
There are several things that Christians believe form the basis of their lives:
1. God has a story – From the beginning of time, God made the earth and everything on it. They challenge the proponents of the “big bang” theory by simply stating that God lit the fuse that created the explosion. The Bible, which is a book written by dozens of authors, offers Christians principles, life strategies, and stories about the lives of other Christians.
2. God is everywhere, all the time: Christians are never alone. They don’t just believe this a few days a year, but they have faith that they are never truly alone. They argue that although God is bigger than all his problems, he is a gentleman. He does not cause evil, but goes through it like a best friend, always offering comfort, maturity and good lessons for those who are observant.
3. God promises a future that is eternal. Christians do not believe that heaven is earned by good works but is given as an invitation to those who believe.
Sometimes clients make an appointment with a therapist because they are trying to find the answers to big spiritual questions like “What is my purpose?” or “Why do bad things happen to children?” Some reject the idea of being a God but need the human support of someone who has experience as a problem solver. Many have trouble understanding how spiritual things fit together on a personal level and others come asking how they can deal with others.
No matter what their spiritual outlook, all individual clients want hope. I hope things will be better. I hope your pain stops and you can enjoy peace. Hope for the future.
I am often asked “Is there hope for me?” and I answer that I would not be in this business if I did not believe that things can change.
The sad thing for those who don’t have faith is that it means two things: one is that they have to be their own God and that brings a lot of pressure. Second, your life has a time limit. When it’s over, it’s over!
No matter what you believe, I hope this coming Easter weekend is a calm and reflective one for you.
Happy Easter everyone!