Good Eggs in our Lives

by Lois bolin
Old Naples Historian

Easter holds a special meaning for us all. For some it’s a sign that our favorite restaurant will be easier to visit as our seasonal guests begin their exodus after Easter weekend. For others, it’s a time for Easter bunnies and egg hunts and for many, it is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter is at the heart of Christian faith, and if such is the case in your home, you may have had to address to your little ones the question: “What does Easter bunnies, egg hunts, etc. have to do with Easter?”

Well, once upon a time Christians would abstain from eating eggs and meat during Lent. Easter was the first chance to eat eggs after a long period of abstinence. It was difficult to preserve milk and meat products because they did not have refrigerators. (What? The kids must be thinking.) Such was not true of eggs because they do not perish quickly and…providing the hens would cooperate throughout Lent; a surplus would exist by Easter, providing a natural way to break the fast on Easter Sunday.

The origin of the Easter Bunny’s roots go back to pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon history. Their pagan celebration worshiped the goddess Eastre, the goddess of fertility and springtime, and her symbol was the rabbit.

After Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, their springtime holiday, which occurred around the same time as Jesus’ resurrection, was combined with the Christian celebration and given the name Easter.

Pastor David Ireland, who is also a diversity consultant to the NBA explained that Easter is God’s mulligan to humanity. For you non golfers, a mulligan is a stroke that is replayed from the spot of the prior stroke without any penalty – the error has been forgiven so we get to take the shot again. To his way of thinking, Easter reminds him that we get the chance to keep trying to live the God-kind of life.

Good Egg Award

This year SWFL Veterans Alliance will begin their Good Egg Award to honor those community stewards’ ‘egg-ceptional’ efforts to support and honor our active military families and veterans as well as education in local and American history.While the nominations have not been finalized there are a few of behind the scenes‘egg-stra’ special people who quietly serve and are ‘egg-sactly what every community needs.

Alfie Oakes, owner of Oakes Farms has supported the Greatest Generation Breakfast every August with a Victory Garden stand where Veterans take home a ‘we care’ package.

Don Treglown is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, which serves as luncheon host for the Marine Corps League every Tuesday. In the past 10 years, his church has sent over 73 tons of care packages to our active military overseas.

Jeremy Giles, locally educated and came home to open his business, Tomahawk Industries, can be found behind the scenes helping in a variety of ways especially when it comes to being sure American history is taught to our kids.

Heather Hornus-Corace, illustrator, fine art artist and professional photographer, hails from a along line of patriots and is most often found behind the scenes and her camera taking photographs at veterans events.

Deborah and Alen Silver, founding Board Members of Collier County Honor Flight, now lend their love and talent to the Jewish Federation Community Center of SWFL and its Senior Center helping to bring quality of life programs. They are currently working on homeless veterans housing.

Ray Rignel, former US Navy Fighter Pilot, can be found at any event honoring veterans. He volunteers at the Military Memorabilia Museum, Domestic Animal Services Department and helps animals as a Certified Florida Animal Rescuer.

Chief William Carl, President of the Collier County Veterans Council, has charted a new collaborative course for CCVC.

Christine Sutherland, Collier County Committee Woman and Vice Chair of Honor the Free Press, can be found most days helping with a variety of veterans and history groups including Rosie the Riveters.

Now, I am no ‘egg-spert’ at explaining to kids the connection between Easter eggs, Bunnies and the Cross, but I hope we are “egg-greable” that I know a good egg when I see one. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Easter mulligan when we reflect on life, love, family and the blessings of having good eggs in our lives.