Celebrating Easter
April 17, 2022
Today is Easter Sunday. This religious holiday has not meant anything in China for thousands of years. But the timing of Easter coincides with the beginning of the Spring. After a whole winter of being dormant, plants and animals have a chance to come alive and renew their lives. And we would visit our parents’ and ancestor graves to pay our respect. We will sweep the gravesite and clear any overgrown or dead vegetation. We use the space in front of their gravestone to create an altar. We will lay out fruits, other treats, and cups of rice wine and burn incents. We will catch up with them and report on what we have done that would make them proud. We also thank their spirits for watching over us. Afterward, we bow three times and pour the rice wine into the ground before we leave.
Last Saturday, I became an ordained clergy and interfaith chaplain in Berkeley. The most important part of the ceremony was about honoring our lineage and connection to our ancestors. When the community formed several concentric circles around the six women who were to be ordained by laying their hands on us, I felt deeply moved and connected to the love that runs through all of us. I could feel my ancestors’ and parents’ presence in the circle too. When my parents were alive, they wanted me to have a good and steady job and stay with the same employer until I retire. Well, my career did not turn out the way they have imagined. Now I have followed my calling and become a chaplain and spiritual activist. They probably would continue to shake their head but feel proud of my decision, nevertheless. And included in the circles that day were 12 Unitarian Universalist friends, who traveled north to witness this very important occasion. They are forever parts of my family.
This morning, I am thinking of my mother. After she entered hospice care, one day, she opened her eyes and looked quite lucid. I took the opportunity and said all the things I needed to say to her. I asked her for forgiveness for all the times when I caused her worries and pain. I repeated to her that I loved her. She said there was nothing I did that needed forgiveness and she loved me too. Then she closed her eyes and never opened them again. When she took the last breath, I climbed into bed and held her body until her skin turned cold. I knew her spirit was free, and her body no longer suffered.
This is the season of renewal. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is promised to no one. The Buddha reminded us that what is real is the present moment. We need to be awake and make this moment count. Let go of our burdens and any regrets including all the “should’ve, could’ve, or would’ve” and start from ground zero again.
To me, the ending is also the beginning. All the spirits live on forever. On this Easter Sunday, we have a chance to renew our life, open our hearts and our pours, and let the spirits flow through us. Let us reaffirm our connection to this human family.