No BS: Easter is a festival of heroism

No B.S Friday: There are many lessons to take from the Easter stories. Today, I’m thinking about heroism.

I know most people know I failed school more than once. But did you also know I failed Sunday School seven times?

Yep. True story. You can fail Sunday School.

I had the same relationship with Sunday School that I had with weekday school. They wanted me to “just shut up and do your book work.” I wanted to overthrow oppressive authoritarian structures and play soccer.

We had to agree to disagree.

Still, as fraught as that relationship was, the things I learnt there found their way deep into my psyche.

And while colouring in a picture of the baby Jesus did seem like a colossal waste of time (time that could have been spent playing footy, which is a totally awesome use of time), there was something there.

Through it all, down through time, I felt there was some sort of transmission. And in many ways I’ve been wondering what that is exactly.

And I do find myself pondering the Bible and the stories of Jesus fairly often. There is a language here, and I think a code and a blueprint for fully realising our potential – for actualising our mission here on Earth, dare I say it.

And in all of that, it often feels like the Easter stories are the heart of it all. I think they are incredibly profound, and there’s so many ways to understand them – to learn from the example Jesus gave us.

Now, as I said, I failed Sunday School, so don’t’ be taking any theological advice from me without consulting an independent salvation planner.

And while I take a lot from the examples of Christ, even I’m not egotistical enough to compare myself with the suffering and mission of Christ.

My cross to bear is my rascally good looks and not knowing what to spend my money on next. For Jesus it was the entire sin catalogue of humanity and dying a slow an agonising death.

There’s no comparison.

But there are many, many lessons.

The one I’m reflecting on at the moment is how it feels like whenever we want to bring something beautiful in the world – whether that’s our creative vision, our generosity, our love, our walking in the light, whatever – there is a price that must be paid.

That’s the nature of this fallen world. Jesus, and all the beauty he brought, was met with the full suffering and sinful nature of humanity.

For us, will be tested and often disappointed. You might say you want to bring this or that through, but then the devil will say, “Yes, but look how hard it’s going to be. People might laugh at you. People might say nasty things about you on Facebook. People might stick burning crosses up on your front lawn.”

“Won’t it be easier to betray the better angels of your nature and just go to the movies or something instead?”

Following Jesus, as best as you are able, on the path he walked, is not easy. That’s the point.

The very beauty that Christ brought through only came through because he was willing to pay the price for it.

And if we can keep this sacrifice in mind – the one made by that hero of Calvary – then it steels us for the heroism our own life demands.

It spurs us on to the heroism needed to be true to ourselves and what we know to be beautiful and best.

And to do that, despite what the devil says, in the seductive voice of our own laziness.

So this Easter, remember that this is a festival of heroism.

And let it spur you on to fulfil your own heroic potential – in whatever shape you know it to be.

There. Now can I get my Sunday School diploma?

JG.