"Holiday" Weekend Thoughts

Today is Good Friday and the stock market is closed. Huh? America was founded by Christians who were trying to begin new lives and worship in new ways. OK, I get that. But one of the standards of this nation is what's called "separation of Church and State". When it comes down to it though, the nation as a whole only shuts down on two days each year - Christmas and Easter Sunday. Religious holidays of the Christian faith.

Crucifixion is a nasty, painful, tortuous death which nobody deserved.
I like the paintings of the old masters so thought I would share
this one with you on this Good Friday.

There isn't a corresponding shut-down of services and businesses on Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, the holiest days for the Jewish faith. You don't get federal shut downs on the first or last days of Ramadan, the birthday of the Buddha or the four solar indices - Solstice and Equinox - for those walking the pagan pathways. No, the only time the US totally shuts down is on the Christian holidays of Easter and Christmas.

I don't actually have a problem with this - I get the days off too and sometimes, rarely, I join my extended family for a nice meal. It just irks me a little bit because I supposedly live in a land that is not driven by any specific religious belief. Hooey! The US is largely Christian-driven no matter what fine words and philosophies are spoken. All I ask is equal respect. I respect your religious beliefs, in fact I know and understand them quite well having studied them for many years. I ask that you give equal respect to the fact that I follow a different spiritual pathway.

Respect should be easy, right?

Metallic Seed Bead Splendor is due to be published next month.

One more quick note before I sign off and return to reading the transcript from the US Supreme Court hearing on the DOMA law. For many years I had a friend named Nancy Zellers. She was an artist - a creative person whose flame would light up the room. She had an infectious smile and a rapier wit. She had fought off cancer once several years ago. But a little more than two years ago her cancer returned and this week, on Tuesday, she left us and the world is suddenly poorer. Her husband let a group of us know about this late yesterday and I've been reading through tears all morning. So here's to you, Nancy. I loved sharing my life with you and I know you're forging ahead, brightening souls with your vision in new dimensions and places. I'll miss you - heck...I already do.