A to Z Challenge - A is for Alleluia

It is Easter Day in the western Christian tradition and in many churches "Alleluia" rings out in hymn and acclamation for the first time since Lent began. I love this word. Be it whispered or shouted or sung, it is a word that for me is overflowing with gratitude, hope, humility, triumph, and joy. I cannot say it without a smile crossing my lips, a warmth rising in my heart, a tickling of joy sparkling through my soul.

This has little to do with any religious experience or celebration, and everything to do with my childhood memories and the family traditions that were and still are the Easter celebrations. When I was a child, Easter day was the climax of days of preparation, most of it having to do with cleaning. My room, the floors, the dining room table and, maybe the windows. Oh, and one other task - polishing the silver.

Fifty plus years ago, Good Friday was the day my mother, sisters and I gathered around the kitchen table to polish 8 full place settings and serving pieces. If we were hosting the whole "fam-damily" then the coffee urn and tea service were added to the polishing list. There was something very comforting about removing stains of darkness and renewing shine and sparkle.

Alleluia!

Saturday was the day we decorated the eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide. I don't recall there ever being a concern about how a bunny who hides eggs and Jesus rising from the dead were connected (or not!). They were separate events that shared the same timing. No conflict at all, at least not in my family. Easter morning we all rose to go to church (after the Easter egg hunt of course!). There we sang the great hymns, inhaled (and nearly fainted from) the fragrance of gazillion dozen Easter Lilies, and wished everybody a Happy Easter. Then it was home for the grand feast celebrated with family gathered around the dining room table.

Alleluia!

Nowadays, we are a family of blended faith and traditions. Our Easter is shared with those celebrating Passover (Hebrew greeting: Chag Sameach!) and those who will celebrate the Pascal Feast a week from now in accordance with the Julian calendar (Serbian greeting: Hristos vaskrse, responded to with Vaistinu vaskrse).

I am blessed by the richness that these traditions bring to my table.
I am blessed by the love we share.

Alleluia!

©2018 April Hoeller

Thursday, or Thereabouts - March 29, 2018

And, I'm back!

Well, at least I think I am. At the very least, I'm going to give it a good try, really I am! Let me not dwell on my absence from these pages. If I allow that to happen, I will fall victim to yet another deluge of should's and ought's which will surely paralyze my write hand. Not happening. Not today.


A few weeks ago, a blogging friend very gently suggested that I consider signing up for the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge" the April 2018 edition. I was intrigued and my write hand has been seized by incessant twitchingever since. After some seven months of languishing on the sidelines, my storytelling muscles are truly in need of a rigorous exercise program. This challenge is just the ticket!


So here's the deal: 26 days of blogposts in the month of April thematically arranged by the letters of the alphabet. Sundays, with the exception of April 1 will be quiet days. While some writers taking part may choose to assign a further theme to their posts, I will just write what comes from the letter prompt alone. That will be more than enough exercise for my flabby writing muscles!

My thanks to Arti Jain, my fellow blogger from Doha, for encouraging me to join her in the Blogging Challenge, to pick up my pen and write. Please do take the time to check out Arti's blog where you will find inspiring and evocative words along with great photos.

And see, my writing has already begun! I'm pumped. And, I'll be back here on Sunday.

Wishing you baskets of Easter blessings...

...from the Easter fur-bunny in my house.

©2018 April Hoeller