I no longer fear Satan Bunny!
Easter is still a meaningful celebration for me. Alongside my love for the Divine, I no longer worry about “Satan Bunny,” and I can wear pretty Easter bonnets if I want to.
My first Easter “Resurrection Sunday” as a born-again believer…
If you’re wondering why I have “Easter” marked out like that, it’s because I was once led to believe that Easter was a blasphemous holiday—created to counter the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the conservative evangelical world I was part of, Easter was seen as a satanic, pagan ploy meant to lead people away from Christ or to prevent them from accepting His salvation.
F*cking Easter Bunny? Try Satan Bunny!
Which, of course, is preposterous—but that’s what I believed for over twenty years.
Regardless, this weekend I remembered my first Easter as a born-again Christian. On Good Friday, I cried all day, unknowingly triggering my own PTSD by obsessing over the torture and crucifixion of Jesus. I even wrote a poem about it and made copies to give to everyone in the building where I worked (I was working for televangelist James Robison at the time). Everyone who gave me feedback was encouraging, but I’m sure at least a few people thought it was a little weird.
Still, that memory reminded me that I’ve always been passionate about what I believe in. I have better social skills and emotional intelligence now, but that memory holds a special place in my heart.
Today…
This year, I spent Easter—because it is Easter—with chosen family. Dan and I hosted Easter brunch and had plenty of mimosas and food. It was a great time, with around 11 folks stopping by at one point or another.
I still believe in the Atonement (Christ’s death and resurrection), but instead of letting it trigger me, I embraced the beauty of the Divine in His example: being true to who He is and showing love for everyone. I no longer believe in the Gospel as told by legalistic (judgmental) Christians. I believe we will all make our way Home—the afterlife—somehow, some way, whether someone believes in Christ, another god, or nothing spiritual at all. Christ’s example is one of profound sacrifice for the greater good. Jesus leads the way for many of us to engage with the Divine that permeates us and everything around us.
Easter is still a meaningful celebration for me. Alongside my love for the Divine, I no longer worry about “Satan Bunny,” and I can wear pretty Easter bonnets if I want to.
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