I was raised Catholic so Easter has a lot of strong memories for me. Shiny new patent leather shoes that we bought at a shoe store in Nashua where the salesman put your little foot into a metal measuring tool. I still remember the excitement. We kids had two pairs of shoes — school and play. Just like our clothing since we also attended a Catholic school.
If the weather was bad I was not allowed to wear my “dress up” shoes as we walked to church. I remember how upset I would get because I felt robbed of my fancy shoes and who wants to show off your fancy dress with rain boots. I mean, it ruined the whole vibe.
Culture is much less concerned with those things now. Everyone drives everywhere because we’re so over-scheduled and live farther away from places especially being in the suburbs. Churches are fewer too. And as a society we’ve gotten much less interested in pantyhose and shiny shoes.
My paternal grandparents lived a block away from church but rarely attended church together and we would visit them after mass. My grandmother was an English Anglican and my grandfather was Irish Catholic.
Their union was an abomination 100 years ago and they kept a low profile. My grandpa had to sneak his kids into churches in other communities because my nana’s absence would be questioned by their neighbors.
I never understood religious bigotry until I was older. I still have a hard time with it. My dad knew it and lived it as a child and he and my mom (bless them both) raised their own kids to be anti-prejudice and accepting of others who were different.
So we’d show up with our new shiny outfits every Easter and my grandparents would consider that visit to be their Easter worship. They loved my mom because she never cared about anything other than who people were in their hearts.
On Easter I take a moment to remember those days. And feel overwhelming gratitude that my parents raised their kids to break the cycle of bigotry. My siblings and I are all better people because of that. I believe I’m in this church right now because of them and my dad’s parents.
I’ve swapped out shiny shoes for cowboy boots. And Catholicism for Unitarian Universalism but the core values I learned at Easter still remain. Love your neighbor, celebrate spring, and be open hearted.
I light the chalice today for shiny shoes and shiny memories. May we teach our children love and acceptance at Easter and always.
