As I’ve grown, shifted and evolved as a person so have some of the traditions I used to take part in. Today is a significant day for many and yet it’s a celebration that has changed drastically for me. For the Wuerfel fam bam, we chose to make our Easter Sunday a relaxing one; we cleaned, we played and then we did an activity I would argue captures the real essence of Easter. We chose to plant vegetables and flowers; we chose to get our hands dirty and dig into the rich soil.
I grew up in a tradition that would celebrate this day by replaying a horrific crucifixion. We’d watch as Jesus was brutally murdered before our eyes and then in the last 20 minutes we’d watch as he was oddly floated into the sky, wires attached to his frame and angels hovering on either side promising that we too could join him up there some day. Afterwards feelings of fear, guilt and shame covered me. I was told somehow I had played some part in this murder, “his blood is on all our hands.” “We too have nailed him to the cross.” Watching that kind of violence, year after year did something to me as a child. I began to feel desensitized to the story, to the injustice of it. It was almost as if I was being trained at an early age to accept injustice as God’s means to an end rather than the beautiful Jesus teachings of enemy love, restoration, and social justice.
It’s interesting when you consider what a diet of graphic violence like this does to the brain and body, especially of children. The prefrontal cortex is the so called “thinking part” of the brain which deals with concentration, decision making, self-control and inhibition while the amygdala is part of the limbic system, the emotion center that serves many emotional functions, but can be the trigger for depression, anger, aggression and impulsive behavior. We can see the affect watching violence has on individuals through the hundreds of studies done. The Virginia Tech Research Division showed students several non-violent movies, followed by super-violent movies. They observed high increases in hostile behavior for the next five days. The University of Alabama conducted a similar study and obtained similar results. The results also indicated the aggressive behavior didn’t occur just after viewing, but remained with the individuals for “quite some time.” The study concludes with a caution to parents that immature and/or aggressive children should not have access to violent films.
The Macquarie University Children and Families Research Centre found that children who watch violent movies are more likely to view the world as an unsympathetic, malicious and scary place and that this stimulates aggression. It also suggests children are more likely to exhibit combative behavior while becoming desensitized to violence. Reportedly, the MRI brain scans of children who have viewed film or television violence had a similar look when compared to those who have violently acted out.There are hundreds more studies showing the connections between watching violence and destructive behaviors that follow in the watcher.
I write all of this to simply ask the question. If the life and teachings of Jesus were to show how to love one another well, how to recycle hate with love, how to bring healing to the world and Easther is a day to celebrate life and rebirth; then what activities SHOULD Jesus followers participate in, watch, and emulate?
For our family we won’t be found watching crucifixions, singing about the blood of Jesus covering us, or going to sunrise services. You’ll find our family digging in the dirt, getting our clothes dirty, planting seeds and small tomato plants celebrating the new season of Spring where life begins again. Where small shoots of life will break through their dark dirt graves and breathe in life as the sun shines down bringing life and nutrients.
May you too take time to celebrate the new life springing forth all around you. May you allow the old to die, to enrich the soil, the journey of you becoming you, and may you make room for beautiful life to spring forth again!
Much love,
Tony