Every weekend, when each member of The Daily Felltoon staff usually gets some time away from our regular jobs, we like to do what we can to spend time with our friends and family, to recharge our internal batteries.
Whether that means we tinker around with an old vehicle, visit a national monument, or simply go to a baseball game, we think the time spent remembering NOT to work so hard is good for each of us, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
This weekend is a confluence of holiday celebrations, for those of many faiths. For nature worshipers, today is Earth Day. For people of both the Christian and Jewish faiths, this week, and this weekend, also have a very spiritual meaning to them.
In short, Earth Day to pagans, Easter to Christians and Passover to Jews, all have similar and related meanings.
For Christians, the season is about rebirth, and the belief that hope springs eternal. For Jews, the holiday is also about hope, and thankfulness, that we've been spared a horrible fate. For pagans, it's all about giving back to the world that we all live in.
We realize that not everyone is as lucky as we are.
For example, there are those in Japan who have lost their entire cities; their homes, their families, all the things in their lives that were so familiar, things they will never have again in quite the same way. Those across the U.S. who've been affected by tornados, or fires, or floods, are facing many of the same problems their neighbors in Japan are suffering through.
One of our own staff members suffered a similar series of tragedies nearly three years ago. In a very short time span, three sharp losses - including a major fire - destroyed the stability, and some of the income, of this staff member's life.
The rest of our staff, even before we began working together, helped out - as friends do.
When things seemed darkest, there was a comfortable chair, a place to work, words of kindness - and hope.
No matter what your spiritual beliefs are, we hope this weekend - or sometime soon - you take a moment to celebrate both of what two of the world's major religions are celebrating this weekend.
Be thankful for what you have, thankful that your life is as good as it is.
Then, give someone else the gift of hope.
Do something for someone they don't expect. Take a younger person under your wing, as a mentor. Or make a donation to your favorite high school or college athletic program. It doesn't have to be expensive, or even be something you purchase. You could simply give a smile and a wave to that neighbor you'd usually rather ignore.
Whatever you do, we ask that you give someone else some hope.
That's a gift that everyone can appreciate, and that the world needs more of all year long.
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