For us

   For us as young people....

  Peacetime and the Cold War had allowed for a compartmentalizing.  And then nations disagreeing and fighting heatedly forced change.  There had to be some kind of unification around.  We're always approaching things as individuals who...with previous context and background; with baggage; with ideas; with ambition and ignorance.  We rally around cause and issue and goal.  As Americans we have the hardwon rights and responsibilities to do so.  That was also the burden of the first Christians.

  I can imagine the disruption and chaos that Jesus' human death caused.  The people who loved him and had been caring about humanity and soul-stuff in the ways they'd developed with Jesus were suddenly bereft of him, were left on their own, had terror and fear thrust upon them, were almost drown by confusion and terrible failure.  God the Father was demanding faith over fear.  Requiring disciples of the Way to believe in the face of total adversity.  And, being a merciful and loving God, He didn't abandon.  Even for those with shaky faith and feelings of unworthiness, He didn't abandon. 

  Right away He sent Jesus back in a glorified body as proof that faith in the awesomeness of God is also "real".  That unifying around Jesus and the Way makes way through grief and strife.  That, yeah, human life is hard and has it's bitterness and misery, but.

  Most days are not Easter.  Most days are not Passover.  Most days are little wins and losses.  But as Americans we survive the American way.  And as people of God we survive the faith.