The Spiritual Life Center is truly an interfaith place these days, so this week we are preparing for both Christian Holy Week events and the Passover Seder. It\u2019s a busy place when you add in memorial services for Melissa Smith and Pete Warren. \u00a0In the midst of this very special season a favorite poem came to mind: The Story and the Child, by Ann Weems.<\/p>\n
The child comes,<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and we dye eggs<\/i><\/p>\n
and make a cake<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and decorate.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are we doing this?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 he asks.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cBecause,\u201d I answer,<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLife is about to happen,<\/i><\/p>\n
and on Sunday morning<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019ll catch stars.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He looks at me,<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 quizzically at first,<\/i><\/p>\n
and then grins.<\/i><\/p>\n
It\u2019s then I ask him<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 to tell me the story.<\/i><\/p>\n
The only way he\u2019ll learn<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 is to tell it himself.<\/i><\/p>\n
The only way we\u2019ll learn <\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 is to tell it again . . .<\/i><\/p>\n
and again . . .<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 to the child<\/i>.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n
Although Ann Weems is a Christian poet, the poem reminds me of the Jewish Passover tradition of the child asking the questions and looking for the afikomen (a piece of matzoh). The child repeats the four questions:<\/p>\n
“Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?”<\/p>\n
The four questions prompt the retelling of becoming a free people and help the children remember their past. Searching for the afikomen at the end of the meal not only keeps the children motivated until the end of the service, but earns them a small treat and a blessing if they find it.<\/p>\n
If you knew Pete Warren and knew how much he valued family and mentoring, whether with students, young professionals, with Big Brothers Big Sisters, his work with the United Way, his service as mayor, his dedication to his faith and his commitment to higher education, then you have an added incentive to pass on important traditions. And so whether you are hiding Easter Eggs or afikomen this weekend, I invite you to remember your traditions and share them with those around you. In doing so you may discover your own faith anew.<\/p>\n
Have a blessed week,<\/p>\n
Stephanie<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Spiritual Life Center is truly an interfaith place these days, so this week we are preparing for both Christian Holy Week events and the Passover Seder. It\u2019s a busy place when you add in memorial services for Melissa Smith …<\/p>\n