A friend recently observed some kids will dread an activity – until they get there. Then they have a blast.

Church was like that for me this morning. I really thought it was going to go badly. Beth was in rare form, and my fourth grade teacher sat next to me. Yes, the one I wrote about recently.

But there are a lot of things to love about Easter Sunday service. It’s festive and upbeat. As a bonus, you get all the folks who don’t normally come – and bring with them a wonderful change of pace. Like the woman who sat a few seats over (next to my fourth grade teacher). She sat down holding her insulated coffee mug. It’s never occurred to any of us stuffy Lutherans to bring coffee to church. Or the old woman who didn’t turn off her phone – and answered it – during the sermon.

Some folks were visibly upset. Me? I thought it was great they came. Maybe they have no intention of coming back. Maybe they were just there to fulfill a sense of routine, or a promise made to someone. So what? I think most of the regulars are there for the same reason, just more often.

Some folks undoubtably see it as a lack of respect. I see it as a bunch of new folks in church not accustomed to coming – with just as much joy in their voices and kindness in their souls.

It all added up to a great morning.

Be warned: I’m feeling preachy today.

If I may intrude (you did come to me, after all), consider this when your kids break out in smiles today, filling their faces with joy and holiday goodies.

Climate Progress:

The true debate is not between those who say global warming is a serious problem that deserves strong action and those who say it isn’t.  The debate is now between those who say global warming is a serious problem that deserves strong action and those who say global warming is the gravest threat to human civilization in history that demands we bear any burden, pay and price, to prevent.

Or this (via OBM):

We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

You might have heard about George Will’s column from a month or so back, attacking global warming science. Click through the first link… you might not have heard his own paper threw him under the bus… then for good measure threw it in reverse to run him over again.

I always thought there was something wrong with me. There were certain holidays that meant nothing (or very little to me) and Easter was one of them.

You can excuse a kid if he/she feels nothing for a holiday that gives nothing back – not with birthdays and Christmas to contend with. But I’m an adult. I’m supposed to be better. It’s part of growing up – being more mature – understanding there’s more to the world than yourself.

Still… nothing.

Thing is, I think of myself as religious. I don’t go to church to speak in tongues, listen to gospel and Christian rock on my iPhone all day, or work a second job cold-calling the heathen, explaining how I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. But I don’t think that’s where God puts the bar. I’m not sure he even cares how I dress on Easter Sunday. I know… heresy, eh?

But what’s wrong with me? Why don’t I care? How can I believe and not care? Some of you might conclude I don’t, that I’m kidding myself. I could argue with you, but what’s the point?

Tomorrow’s Easter and all I can think about is how hard it’s going to be resisting the temptation to eat food my doctor says I shouldn’t. Those folks who say the secret to a good diet is moderation, not denial, don’t know me. Sweets are like crack. My memory for the smell and taste of sweets is acute, and reminders kill me… or rather, they will kill me. I’m going to be looking at candies, cakes, and all kinds of goodies all day. I won’t hear a word anyone says to me over the screaming of my eyes, nose, and stomach. And God help me if I start. I won’t stop until next Easter.

The rest of it makes me feel utterly indifferent. The thing is, I don’t want to be.