This is the week we celebrate Easter. It’s a time in which we think about getting back to church next Sunday. I remember clearly “Easter Sundays” over at Stonewall. It was a celebration and even a dress up time over in the First Baptist Church and a time for ladies’ hats. Yes, the women did wear their hats in the 40’s. At the Main Theatre in downtown Stonewall a popular sight on the silver screen right after Easter was the annual Easter Parade down 5th Avenue in New York City. That was presented by Warner Path-A News — a popular newsreel of those times.

But now, not only are the hats missing from our social fabric, so is the old Main Theatre. It went down in flames years ago. My favorite hat wearer on Easter Sunday in Stonewall was Janie Hunt. She not only shopped early for her stylish Easter Bonnet, but she also always personalized it to her own taste. But those hats and their wearers are gone and I think we are a little less because of it.

Another part of the Easter Story that we all enjoy is the annual easter egg hunts across America. We have our own here in Allen down at the city park and some of the churches have already staged one of these celebrations. I remember well the first Easter that Pat and I celebrated here in Allen. It was 1964 and we put on our Sunday best and dressed up our one and only male child. He looked really good and just as I was going to put him in our car he bolted away. A big juicy mud hole out at the side of the road drew his attention and he eliminated our chances, 100%, of showing him and his new Easter outfit off. He took a tumble face first in the mudhole.

But I suppose the main thing about the Easter story still persists. The story of the resurrection of Jesus. Without this part of the story, Easter just becomes a nice, sweet story. But many surveys and studies show our religious beliefs have tempered a lot. This is reflected in declining church attendance and a lack of interest by many Americans in their religious heritage. In fact, just lately the number of family’s that even seriously believe in a “God” has (according to one survey) dipped below 50%. This is believable when you think about it. Our crime rates are skyrocketing, and moral depravity punctuated by the sound of gunfire and the pain and misery of drug use bring us to a new norm here in America.

Some major segments of America would say this is OK. Our entertainment industry has worked hard the past several years portraying Christianity and church going people as stupid, ignorant and immoral to a point that is hurtful and ridiculous. Our media today collectively portray Christian families as subpar in every way. But in my humble (and mostly correct opinion) just the opposite is true. Christian morals and virtues are what has made America into the great country that we are. Drifts away from these roots are bringing us to some painful moments.

Back in 1830 a French historian by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville came over to have a look for himself at this phenomenal country in America. He toured the states extensively and wrote about them. But the one thing that impressed people with what he had to say was this: “America is great because America is good.” I personally think that America was “good” in his eyes because America was a land of religious freedom and the population of this country elected good “religious” people to run things. That was what made America good.

I think America is still great and good but heads of family households need to look around at what we have here and have another look at their own leadership. We need to reexamine things that make our families great and good. We need to take ourselves and our family to church Sunday. That would be a great first step. It’s Easter! What better time than now?

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com