Hide what Matters Securing our Treasures
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. For the first time in 20 years I won't be lurking in the night hiding candy, and 12 plastic eggs. Each egg has a number written in sharpie on the shell and each egg securely holds a thoughtfully handcrafted treasure.
Many years ago when our boys were little, their nanny, Miss Sharon, made these special Easter eggs for our family. When the eggs are found and cracked open in order they tell a 2000 year old story:
Praying hands, a coin, a donkey, a crown of thorns, a leather whip, a nail, a sponge, a spear, a piece of cloth, a chalice, a stone, and most importantly, an empty egg.
Over the years, our Easters have rarely been celebrated in the same place; sometimes we're at home, mostly we are visiting family or travelling. So traditions, to us, are not about doing the same thing but about repeating the same story. Right now, we are in Guam and Easter Sunday morning we will be enroute to Manila. Regardless of where we are or who we are with, we remember, repeat and secure the resurrection story that is the foundation of the faith we treasure
While in Guam I overheard a beautiful myth that reminded me of the importance of sharing the story and protecting the stuff that matters to us.
The myth is about a group of tribal elders gathered to find a way to save their language and culture. One elder came up with the idea of hiding their language and culture high in the trees. Everyone agreed that the treetops would be a good hiding spot, unless the thieves looked up.
The next elder shared the idea of hiding their language and culture under the rocks in the river. The group agreed that was a good idea, unless the theives disturbed the rocks and the river washed their treasure away forever. A little old woman who had never married or had children stood at the back of the group. Finally, in a quiet voice she spoke:
"If we truly want to protect our language and our culture, we must hide it in our children."
Everyone agreed. The best hiding spot for their culture and language was not in the trees or the river, but secured for generations in their children.
Our children are now grown, but as the story goes all those years of hiding chocolates and eggs, then hunting and gorging on sweets were doing more than just rotting our teeth and spiking sugar highs, we were protecting the treasure of our culture, language and our values by locking them into the best hiding place we've got.
Happy Easter
