Easter Season Reflections and Bright Pants

Hellllo, pigeons!!

PHEW! Did we survive Easter in one piece, all y’all?
I am still in the midst of ministerial marathon, as I led a mid-week worship service last night (a peaceful, candlelit gathering called Circle For Compassion, based on Karen Armstrong’s book, 12 Steps To A Compassionate Life), am organizing and leading a Passover seder tonight (for which I cooked a brisket which gave me a hard time until I threatened to smash it with a hammer, after which it immediately tenderized to my satisfaction and can now be cut with a spoon), and am preparing for a memorial service on Saturday. I’ll rest when I’m dead, I suppose.

I am grateful for friends. More so than I can say. I am grateful for Poppa T, my hip-hop Episcopalian priest with whom I laughed for well over two hours on the phone last week. I am grateful to my Rev. Butter Lamb, who keeps me going technologically and spiritually. I am grateful for the pals who made it to my parsonage on Easter afternoon, all tired from the work of Holy Week ministry, to share ham and stories and more laughter. I am so happy that the Very Pregnant Rev. KGS was there and that she delivered of a healthy baby boy two days later.

I became dangerously dehydrated on Easter afternoon and wound up horizontal on the couch, too dizzy to stand. I am grateful to Alison, who thought to ask me if I had been drinking enough water. I am grateful to Peter, who stayed with me and chatted until I had consumed about four Brita pitchers full of water and finally felt strong enough to stand upright.
I am grateful to neighbor and friend Kim, who brought strawberry cake the next day and insisted that I eat it because “it’s just like having fruit.” I love a woman who thinks like that. I am grateful to RW, who is always available for phone support and who met me at Whole Foods for lunch but mostly for a big hug. I am grateful to Michael who was my date Saturday night for a wonderful night of theatre, and I am grateful to the Company Theatre for presenting a thoroughly charming production of “The Wedding Singer.”

I am grateful to awesome church folk, from whom I constantly learn and from whom I constantly gain strength and inspiration. To our church staff, who are talented and terrific, and to the “Altar Guild” and Knitters and others who Get. Things. Done. with charm and humor and creative spark.

I always go through a post-Easter period where I intensely feel God’s presence in the human community. It’s like I get out of my head and into my body in a really earthy, grounded way, and while I lose a lot of my customary mystical ju-ju, I get to feel normal, and even boring. Baseball season starts. I’m thinking about my little garden. I want to go out and play more, and read lighter fare. I feel closer to people. I see them more brightly lit and I love them more easily and deeply.

And sometimes, to reflect the lightness and vibrancy of the season, I think that I might like to wear a pair of bright red or green cropped chinos but then I remind myself that my Easter spirit does not need to express itself as an assault on the eyes of an innocent public. Although, I am somewhat torn. Look at these:

Too casual for ministry. “Mr. Stufflebean, your gardener is here to see you.” Or, “Mrs. Latham, a nice young man from the circus stopped by to visit.”

On the other hand, hot chicness!

Definitely for a day off… but also maybe with a cute blazer for a day at the office.Not cuffed, of course, and not with scuffs.

Purely LOVE, except for that hiddy maroon shirt.

My retinas just burned. Still, on this teeny tiny frame, a pair of insanely loud pants with flats (not that high waist – ick) and a neutral shirt could work.

I’m going to have to lay down some clear guidelines on this one. If you can wear them in a chic and tailored manner, and pair them with clean lines and other garments that aren’t equally bright, enjoy your bright pants. These are not a look for curvy-swervy bodies and they need to be styled, not just thrown on with a golf shirt. Keep the shoes simple, and the rest of the look polished, lest you risk looking like a 6th grader.

MWAH! Kiss of peace!