What is a Resurrection?

To resurrect doesn’t simply mean to “arise from the dead.” According to the Merriam–Webster Dictionary, it also means “to bring to view, attention, or use again.” So even though Easter celebrates Jesus’ rising from the dead and bringing eternal life to all, other religions also celebrate different forms of spiritual resurrection.

For Jews, Passover is a remembrance of when Moses led the slaves out of Egypt into freedom — ever reminding us to be free from bondage. Slavery has many forms and can be forced or voluntary such as addiction. We should always be mindful of the value of personal freedom in all its forms and the power of our creator to help us remain free.

Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting and prayer to reflect on right and wrong and to remember God’s forgiveness of sins. Resurrecting our mistakes and doing a personal examination is not a comfortable process. But if we can’t reflect on our past decisions, learn from them, and correct them, we remain stuck in darkness. When we can face these unwanted parts of ourselves, we become free from the bondage of self.

All these holy holidays are to resurrect our consciousness and elevate our spiritual nature.

It’s easy to be swept in the busyness of life or to simply forget to be the best version of ourselves. Spirituality is remembering that we aren’t just clunks of flesh wandering aimlessly around without a purpose. Instead, we each are unique expressions of the Divine.

Personal resurrection is when we go deep into our souls and retrieve the best part of ourselves. We don’t forget who we are and why we’re here – to share and receive love. In fact, to love and be loved is the only reason we’re here.

Many people have replaced love with other substitutes to self-soothe or escape unwanted emotions. When we resurrect ourselves, we can be restored to a childlike state — feeling innocent and loved simply because we exist. Children aren’t born seeking alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, pills, unhealthy foods, busy work, or other forms of escape. They are happy in the moment and when their basic needs are met — food, shelter, warmth, and affection, they are content. We can resurrect that childlike state now by providing that same basic self-care without substitutes for genuine love. We can then obtain freedom from the bondage of dependencies.

Finally, before we can resurrect ourselves, we must be willing to forgive. Many people hold deep grievances against others, but mostly against themselves. Old hurts and pain turn into unmalleable walls that won’t allow light to shine in or out. The body and mind become a cold hard shell of resistance to life’s natural order — something that is ever-changing and unpredictable, especially painful when we resist it. Forgiveness melts away the plaque that has built a wall around our hearts. When we forgive, we resurrect our hearts so that we can feel wholeheartedly again without the heavy burden of past mistakes.

Regardless of one’s religion or philosophy, this time of year is an opportunity for new growth. But first, we must be willing to resurrect our truest self. We can free ourselves from the slavery of unhealthy dependencies. We can reflect on our actions and decide to make better choices. We can let go of the past and allow our hearts to fill with the light of forgiveness. All these things will resurrect the eternal love that we are here to manifest. Then we can feel the joy and happiness that will give us paradise now.

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