Don't squash the caterpillars this Easter

   The powerful message of Easter revealed itself to me in two simple photos I took while visiting my family in the Caribbean. Dozens of these caterpillars were crawling along a drive way. My cousin was complaining how messy they were as I was admiring their beauty. Living in a cold climate helps me to appreciate these "taken-for-granted" messiness of nature. While we were talking, this beautiful butterfly fluttered alongside, reminding us that his "cousin" would not be earth-bound forever.
   Returning to my home abroad that year, Easter had a special significance when I proclaimed its dynamism. Here were my words: 
             "Easter proclaims the victory of God through and over the worst we can do to one another. Easter proclaims the vindication of a God who risks everything, even life, to make of the human enterprise one of justice and peace. Easter vindicates the faithful life of Jesus, the hope he harbored, the love he exercised, the death he underwent as a criminal and traitor crawling literally on the ground for us. Now restored, renewed, we proclaim, he is risen from the dead. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia!"
   Next time, don't squash the caterpillars!