Happy Easter

Bud's got a cold. Very unusual for him. And petrol prices have gone up. So we've put those two factors together and cancelled our planned trip to Berlin. It'll be Easter at home instead. Spring cleaning and looking for jobs on internet, plus reading books, cooking/eating some decent nosh, walks round the park and along the river and maybe a trip out somewhere Sunday, Monday if weather's OK and Bud's better.

I don't understand Easter, never did. Can anyone explain it to me? It always used to puzzle me as a kid - along with Christmas. What do Easter bunnies and Easter eggs have to do with Jesus dying on a cross? What does Father Christmas have to do with Jesus's birthday? I always found it confusing. Still not sure where Santa comes into it but do realise of course that Easter - and probably those bunnies and eggs - has pagan origins. If I look at the shops today, I'd say that the pagans have won after all.

But while we're on the subject: I don't get the Crucifixion or the Resurrection. Sorry, but I just don't. Why does Jesus's dying on the cross mean that my sins (what sins?), your sins are forgiven? I once walked into a Christian convention in New Zealand and asked that question and couldn't get a decent answer to it - not one that made sense to me.

And can it be true that 75% of Americans polled by Newsweek really believe that not only did his spirit live on after death (I'll go along with that) but his BODY lived on as well? Where is it now, for goodness sake...?

I think Jesus was kind, wise and enlightened. He spoke of life and of love. I wish I could live even a fraction of what I believe he really said (before the censors changed it).

If he ever does come back, my guess is that he won't want to be seen dead in a church - and certainly not in so many.

Happy Easter.