At the time I am writing this article, it is the Tuesday afternoon of Easter Week. For Christians worldwide, Easter is the epitome of the Gospel story, as the resurrection of Christ from the dead makes it possible to inherit eternal life in Heaven.
My brother J. C., a seeker of truth, or at least a questioner, said that saved people did not go to Heaven. He said they go to Paradise, for that is what Jesus told the repentant thief who was crucified with Him, “. . . to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 KJV). Several interesting discussions on this statement can be found on Internet (e.g., https://www.stephenshephard.com/blog/2020/9/20/today-you-shall-be-with-…). This example focuses on how the placement of commas in Bible translations makes significant differences in meaning.
Unfortunately, sometimes too much speculating on minute details of any subject result in more harm and injury than good. Some people’s faith can be compared to the egg’s shell—so delicate it easily cracks when put to the smallest scrutiny. There is somewhat of a mystery when we think that human and lots of animal life begins with an egg cell from the mother. Even an egg about to be fried looks suspiciously like the drawings of cells that we copied and labeled in science and biology classes. In fact, that is what an uncooked egg is—the cell of what would become a chicken if the egg were left to incubate with the hen rather than being cultivated as food for man. (I still like eggs, though I’ve never thought of them in the same way since this was made known in school.) Perhaps it is therefore fitting that eggs have become part of Easter, the holiday that celebrates the beginning of eternal life in “Heaven” or “Paradise” for the Christian, just as the egg is a fitting symbol to represent the beginning of the natural life on Earth.
Even for us die-hard Baptists, food is a prominent factor in celebration of any holiday, religious or otherwise. Eggs often feature prominently in Sunday Easter dinners. What Easter Sunday dinner would be complete without “deviled” eggs? (If you really want to spice up your Easter Sunday dinner, have “devil’s food cake” for dessert.) It seems in more recent times that there has been a move from hard-boiled, dyed Easter eggs to plastic eggs containing candy and prizes of chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies.
I remember eggs figuring in Easter celebrations early in life. For the first few years in school, there was the annual Easter egg hunt. In those days, we used real, dyed, hard-boiled eggs, the kinds that stank weeks later in the bottom of some sloppy kid’s book satchel, cubbyhole or desk. I’ve even seen a forgotten Easter egg slung several days later from lawnmowers. There seemed to be a prize egg, usually a duck or goose egg that was larger than the average chicken egg. Winners were determined by the number of eggs found. I always seemed to find fewer eggs than almost anyone in my class, and the few I found had a habit or rolling out of my basket onto the ground, promptly to be crushed by my all-of-a-sudden too large feet (my feet always seemed smaller at all times of the year except at Easter time).
Maynardville Elementary had a large student population, so undoubtedly the number of students and lack of space (which decreased steadily over passing years as enrollment increased) dictated that we only hunted eggs through third grade. Older students were often used to hide eggs for the early grades. I remember hiding eggs at my house one Easter for my niece and nephew, and really enjoying the experience. I had no further experiences with Easter egg hunts until I became a teacher at Luttrell Elementary. Though there was more space at Luttrell than at Maynardville, still only the lower grades hunted eggs.
Imagine my surprise when I became principal of Sharps Chapel to learn that traditionally the entire school (kindergarten through eighth grades) hunted Easter eggs! I was almost labeled a monster when, not knowing this tradition existed, I announced that only the lower grades would have an Easter egg hunt. Honestly, I didn’t think the older students would even consider participation. From this I learned a valuable lesson, and I cringe when leaders fail to learn what the existing traditions in an organization or church are before massive change is implemented (or instigated, depending upon the circumstance).
Perhaps the best thing to remember all throughout the year, regardless of the season, is the opportunity each of us has every day to be a “good egg”. I was pleasantly surprised yesterday evening to arrive home from work to discover that my neighbor, in spite of the health challenges he endures daily, had mowed my yard. To him, perhaps it was a small thing, but I had struggled to find time to mow between work and weather. What a blessing to me his effort was. Often it is the small things in life that make the greatest difference.
By the time you see this article, Dear Reader, I’m sure Easter 2022 will be past. I was reminded by Facebook today that there are 258 shopping days until Christmas, 2022. At my house we are already decorated, Santa and the Christmas tree still occupying their respective corners of our living room. I see several other East Tennessee residents and businesses still have their outside lights mounted. In the spirit of the current season, I leave you with the following reflections from my email world.

Golf balls are like eggs--they're white,
they're sold by the dozen,
and a week later you have to buy more.

One may observe God's accuracy in the hatching of eggs…
those of the Canary in 14 days;
those of the Barnyard Hen in 21 days;
Eggs of Ducks and Geese in 28 days;
those of the Mallard in 35 days;
Eggs of the Parrot and the Ostrich hatch in 42 days.

(Notice, they are all divisible by seven,
the number of days in a week!)