Easter

I know, Easter is several days over. This year it has taken me these several days to finally come around to Easter though. It occurred to me this morning that since Saturday I have gone through a shock, a period of observation and an awakening, making this morning my official Easter. Here is why:

On Saturday there was a murder in the house across the street from us. It turns out that a mentally ill son decided to shoot his parents, killing his father with one shot and critically injuring his mother with six. We did not hear gun shots or see anything out of the ordinary until I was leaving for my Easter vigil mass through an army of emergency workers. When I got home it was obvious that my street was a crime scene. This was not the shock* of my Easter, although it was a great sadness.

Yesterday the police tape came down. This morning I stood at my front door watching the family of the victims carry files and boxes out of the house. I was holding my daughter in my arms, noting how she did not see the people across the street, but was watching some birds tumble and play through the air.

I kissed her fleshy cheek and mumbled, "You must try to love the world in a way that makes the world think you are crazy."
This is our only obligation. This is our Easter.

*This post was originally more lengthy. My shock was about some of the reactions from my family/friends about this incident. However, writing about it is complaining, which serves no one.