Do chicks die and come back to life?
No.
Do bunnies?
Also, no.
So, why are chicks and bunnies considered symbols for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
That never made sense to me. Or to my dog, Caleb.
A couple of years ago, a few days before Easter, he showed me which animal is, arguably, best suited to represent death and resurrection...by catching it on his nightly walk and racing home to drop it proudly at my feet. It was definitely the most unique (and most unwelcome) gift I have ever received, but I could not argue with his logic in choosing it.
The opossum was unscathed (to reassure you 'possum lovers) and only playing dead. Jay brought a bin to cover him just in case he "came back to life" before Animal Control arrived. He definitely seemed dead (the opossum, not Jay): no
sign of breathing, limp limbs, glazed eyes, unresponsive, and exuding the
foul stench of rancid meat so nothing would eat him while he was "playing
'possum." I, for one, wasn't tempted.
But that gave me an idea.
I am now starting a petition for 'Possum Peeps!
They represent Resurrection Day better than chick or bunny Peeps (and will taste just as yummy).
Since we can't buy 'Possum Peeps this year, leave your address below, and (with Caleb's help) we will bless you with a "natural and organic" gift* from the wilds of North Carolina! Happy Resurrection Day!
* Open all overnight packages from us immediately. Contents may be playing dead.
Verse of the day: (John 11:25) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet he shall live." Which is the most amazing gift of all.
For those who've asked (on FB)... I drew the possum faces with colored pencils that my sister gave me. I'm Photoshop deficient, so after unsuccessfully trying to duplicate one face on all the Peeps, I figured it would take less time to just draw five faces (and tails), cut them out, and put them manually on the Peeps.
ReplyDeleteIn response to another question... I had to lick the back of the paper faces to get them to stick to the sugar of the Peep so it wouldn't fall off until I could take the photo. Photo magic!
Why didn't you just lick the Peep instead of the paper?
DeleteBecause it was 2 AM, and I had just eaten a row of purple bunny Peeps, so, my sugar-covered sugar high was making me loopy.
DeleteSeriously adorable Possum Peeps! I, for one, admire your coloring skills. Kindergarten wasn't wasted on you. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteYou're so funny! I think part of me never left kindergarten, which is why my sister would gift me with something like Crayola colored pencils. Happy Easter to you, too!
DeleteLove this so much! Not only was Kindergarten not wasted on you, I bet you'd be great at communicating the truth about the resurrection to kindergartners!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy resurrection celebration and don't eat too many possum peeps!
Thanks, Ann!
DeleteYou are a DELIGHT, Pamela! Thanks for the laughs, my uber creative friend! I have never seen a picture of a possum playing dead -- fantastic talent! Do you think if I learn how to do that, my family will leave me alone? ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt might work, but only if you ooze the stench of rotting meat while you're limp and unresponsive.
DeleteThis was our second 'possum experience. The first time, I worried that the 'possum was really dead. It looked like it had stopped breathing, its open eyes were completely dull and lifeless, its tongue protruded... Then a neighbor's dog grabbed its tail. I didn't want the 'possum to wake up tailless, so I smacked the dog's nose and pulled the tail out of her mouth. Then the FREAKIEST thing happened: the tail instinctively curled around my hand and hung on. It felt SO WEIRD, but at least I knew the 'possum was still alive. It took so long for Animal Control to come (at 2 AM), that I got to watch the 'possum coming to. First, its eyes unglazed, but it didn't move. Since it sensed no danger (we'd put the dogs up), then it started shallow breathing. Then its limbs started to twitch. It takes a long, long time before it actually starts moving again.
I REALLY want to see one hanging from a tree. That would thrill me beyond words.
Funny. I hope you finally see a hanging possum someday. I can't wait to read that post!
ReplyDeletePamela you need to send this post to the "peeps" people. You have my vote for 'possum peeps! Love this post!
ReplyDeletePEEPS on FB read my post and said it was cute!!
ReplyDelete