When I took the ham out of the oven, the potatoes had a bite to them still, so I turned the oven higher. I could see the cream and cheese bubbling, making them scalloped, whatever that is. I placed the foil on top of the ham to keep it warm and returned to my chair.
Our second Easter in a worldwide pandemic had a different aura, but felt the same. I noticed the neighbor mowed his lawn this year, like he did last year, which I thought was weird, both then and now, because they are far more Christian than us. However, Easter and the concept of rebirth had a new sense with two jabs in Brian’s arm and one in mine.
We can see the finish line as our families have gotten or are getting vaccinated. Of course, we are still being cautious and will wear masks and try to stay outside. Large social gatherings will not be on the horizon until we hit herd immunity. But I began to think about Easter and how the story should mean a lot today.
Good Friday
We are taught that Jesus dies on Good Friday after an unjust trial. However, he had to die. His death was for all of us. He dies so that we can all live evermore. He died to make the rest of our lives and afterlives better.
It’s the story of ultimate sacrifice and how to help a community you love and care for. Yet, we live in a time where I hear too many people talk about how we must accept the ignorant beliefs of others.
Selfish people deciding that they do not and will not get the vaccine that has been okayed by governmental entities, tested by scientific organizations, and managed by the private sector. They don’t trust it. Or don’t know what it will do. Or don’t like the politician in charge of it. As if their opinion should matter over the facts and figures of reality.
Millions of people have decided their own perceived well-being is more important than the live of thousands of Americans that will still die from this virus. More importantly, their non-immunized bodies can create variants that could render the immunizations useless.
So the next time I hear someone tell me that I must respect the ill-informed opinion of a non-scientist because they have the right to their opinion, I just hope it doesn’t mean we return to this lockdown. Or that they or a loved one doesn’t die because of their ignorance. I would love to one day see the gravesite of my Grandmother who died a year ago. I would love to hug my mother and father. Or see my nieces and nephews on something that is not a screen. But of course, you’re opinion “matters”.
They don’t have to die for the betterment of society. They need to get a shot. And they are unwilling to do even that.
Happy Easter. Glad you learned nothing from this story that has been passed on for over two thousand years. But of course, this is all just my equal opinion.
