Bash

Well, its Easter. How did we spend Easter? We went all out, I tell you. Let's start with lunch at Burger King. Excellent! Then we basically hung about a mall the rest of the day. Our friends and their kids did some shopping. We really didn't need or want anything. Stopped for ice cream to fill time. Then we went bowling again. Then we had Sizzler for supper, then Starbucks while we waited for the resort's van driver to pick us up.

He was the only blemish in the day. He speaks no English and we speak very little of this local language. The translator at the resort told him our schedule: Burger King first, then the mall, where he would leave us until 9 pm when the mall closed. Then he would take us back to the resort.

We have concluded he isn't the sharpest tack, though, because he took us straight to the mall. We said, no, no, Burger King. He took us there but didn't want to wait. We communicated to be back by 2. Two came and went. Finally at 2:20 we just walked to the mall. It was quite hot, being mid-day, but not really a bad walk. Unfortunately, we sensed this glitch would put our evening pick-up in jeopardy, and we wondered about it all day. Sure enough, we waited until 9:30 and he never showed. We found our own transportation back. Unfortunately, we fear we're going to have to still pay this guy, even though he only did about half his job (if that). Frustrating.

That being said, it was a pretty good Easter.

I did get some quiet, reflective time in the morning, since we didn't leave until lunch time. I read a bit about passover and the significance of some of the timing and symbolism of Jesus' crucifixion. I thought quite a while about what His life meant, how He gave it up, and how He just didn't hold onto things here because He was so focused on eternal things.

Some might say I have given up a lot. But really, I am still so geo-centric. This life, these comforts, the things that bring me joy and security and meaning—they're still so bound to this earth. Only in glimmers and glimpses do I gain a more eternal perspective, and then I rarely maintain it very long. I'm learning, I'm learning. But I still have so far to go.

So it was with a bit of guilt that I headed into town for our big Easter bash. Nothing sacrificial or sacred about enjoying all the commercial pleasures a mall has to offer. Even the air conditioning was a treat! But then I thought, well, today is a happy day. Easter is when Jesus rose again; what better reason to celebrate?? Seems a little silly to sit around sombre and sad-faced on an occasion like this.

It's all the other days of the year that we should live out the truth of His sacrifice and victory.

Tomorrow is our last full day here, and the next day we head home. I can't believe it has gone so fast. I hope it's a quiet day for Mr.. I know this hasn't been his ideal vacation. All the activities, running into town, visiting and social interaction. He really likes to be very still and quiet on a vacation. Reading, napping, thinking, listening to pod casts. Not much opportunity for that this time around. Still, I think he's enjoyed himself more than he expected. I know it's been a lot of fun for me.