Easter Reflections and the Importance of Being 'Good'

I sent a group of friends a very generic Easter greeting card [Sunday]. I created it myself. It was devoid of anything religious. In fact, the design had three photos, one of a wave, one of a flower, and a photo of driftwood. With two lines. Happy Easter and Happy Passover. Just a simple greeting. I meant nothing political or religious by it. One of my friends immediately wrote back and thanked me for sending it, but made it clear, that he was not religious in the slightest.

I understood. In fact, I was not offended by it. To each his own. Whatever.

But it got me thinking. I know this surfer well. He has two children and two grandchildren. Being a parent changes you the day you have children. It does
for most parents I know. I'm sure there are plenty of dead beat parents who could care less about their kids. But most of the moms and dads I know are changed the day their child is born. It's like some alarm or inner timer goes off inside your soul and you know from that moment on, that everything has just changed forever. There is no turning back.

I know you moms and dads know what I'm talking about.

For me personally, it was an awakening for all kinds of thoughts and meaning. And yes, one of the most significant, was my belief in something else. God, Jesus, whatever...it opened my eyes to that world beyond our world. I mean having children means I need to protect them in any way shape or form. If God
is an option, I need to get right with him, and make sure I have all the bases covered. We do what we have to do to protect our kids.

Last week I wrote the line, "There are No Atheists in Foxholes." That's so true.

I thought of my friend who sent back that sharp "thanks but no thanks" to religion today, and could not help but think about what he would do to make sure his kids and grandchildren were safe from all the things out there that could possibly jump up and bite you. And let's face it, there are many. Sickness, disease, accidents, and worse. It's part of being a parent to have to deal with all of that.

So we do, what we need to do, to keep our peace of mind, and live our lives.

And look, I am not saying you need to go to church every Sunday and get down on your knees and pray. But if that is something you do, that's Ok too. Whatever you need to do to keep all of your options open. I personally pray everyday. And I pray to not only God, but to all my Guardian Angels. And I pray for them to watch over all of the people in my life who I love and care about. I do not go to church every week. But I pray and I believe in something. And more importantly, I believe that the way to understand this complex world of life and death, is to simply be a good person, and believe in a faith of your choosing.

Honestly, whatever that is. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or Surfing.

Whatever it is that makes you a better person. I know some of my Christian friends are shaking their heads reading this thinking "No Ralph you must go to church every week. You must put money in the collection box or you'll never get to heaven!" While I know some of my friends who have no religion or belief in their lives are equally shaking their heads thinking "That is such BS Ralph you are so full of it!" Look my point is simple. Just be a good person. And trust me, it's not easy. I know. I'm still working at it. But I try every day. I'm trying.

I don't believe God would reject any person who is a good person. The color of your skin. The sexual preference of your lifestyle. It matters not. It be like saying only Regular Foots get into Heaven. All Goofy foots have to go to hell. Crazy.

Just give a part of yourself to helping someone along the way. Put a smile on someone's face. Stop and lend a hand. And that my friends, is how you become a better person. It is how your children become better individuals. They see what you do and they will emulate your actions.

As far as God and heaven and life after death well...I don't have a definitive answer for you. My late mother used to always say..."Heaven must be a pretty good place." And when I asked why she would say that. She'd answer so matter of factly "Because no one has ever come back..." My Mother was too funny.

But this Easter and Passover Holy week is pretty serious stuff for millions of people all over the world. Pretty heavy worshipping going on. The single most important day in the Christian religion is Easter. The Resurrection. Everything is based on this one moment in time. Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into heaven. If you believe, then it is truly the most blessed of days. Enjoy this day. Enjoy this Holy Week all of you. No matter what your belief. Enjoy it all.

Besides, the Mayans are pulling the plug on all of us this coming December.
Happy Easter. Happy Passover. Happy Surfing.

"Surfing Heals ALL Wounds..."

Now for some of my Weekly Global Observances:

Jim Marshall passed away this week. I know...who the hell is Jim Marshall? Jim Marshall is the man behind Marshall Amps. Think of any Rock and roller in the last 40 plus years and chances are they have played through a Marshall amp. I'm a nobody and I have had several throughout my life. Hendrix is one of the most notable guitar players who used Marshall amps. That amp has a signature sound unlike any other amp on the planet. Rest in Peace Jim...

I watched the Bells Final this week with Slater vs Fanning and for my two cents I think the judges blew this big time. Fanning surfed great that Final Heat. But Slater? He surfed like that damn freak that he is. He was doing stuff that I honestly have NO idea what they were called. 360 backside airs? I mean it was crazy. Kelly should of won that contest. I don't know what they were thinking. They could not have possibly watched the same heat I did. This is the problem with judging surf contests. It's a matter of what some Judge thinks is the better maneuvers being performed. It comes down to an almost beauty pageant like mentality.

Good Lord Judges. Did you NOT see what Slater was doing out there?

Speaking of Judging...I'm losing faith in the ultimate voting scheme gone bad. The American Idol voting is so full of you know what that it defies logic. How is it that you can vote as many times as you want for a contestant and it counts? Huh? Shouldn't it be you vote once and that's it? This multiple voting for your fave Idol is BS.

We stopped watching the show a few years ago because of the Voting dysfunction. We watched it this year because my curiosity got the better of me because we all wanted to see what Stephen Tyler was all about on this show. Now I regret that I got sucked into this show again. Especially in light of the lesser talent hanging around while those who deserve to stay get booted off.

Is this not Voter Fraud?

Speaking of which, if you are still sending money to Newt and Ron Paul I have a used surfboard to sell you. It's right next to that bridge to no where.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover.