Beau geste and the Resurrection: Easter is a season of hope and goodwill between people
In March 2018, we learned from news accounts the tragic story of a French policeman, a well-trained member of the gendarmerie, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 44, who entered a French supermarket, unarmed, in the small town of Trebes in southern France, offering to exchange his life for one of the hostages held by a terrorist; he was sadly killed for his efforts.
Beltrame responded to a moment of crisis with remarkable courage and concern for his fellow man. The French have a phrase “beau geste” which loosely translates to “noble gesture,” which aptly describes this police officer‘s dedication and bravery like so many other fallen heroes who have given their lives to save others from gun violence. Some heard this story and focused on the terrorism aspect; some shrugged their shoulders and said what can I do about this?
On Cape Cod and all across America, thousands, if not millions, of people — young and old, men and women — spurred on by the 2018 Valentine’s Day school shooting deaths in Parkland, Florida, marched in protest of the gun violence so very prevalent in our country. These protesters openly gathered peacefully on town greens and city squares calling on our government to do something to stop the senseless deaths caused by guns. They've petitioned elected officials to act or find another job. There are those who said the march was useless. It would be forgotten in one month. Others said there isn’t a chance that things about guns will change.
This year, on March 31, here on the Cape and around the globe, Christians will celebrate Easter Sunday, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important day in Christianity that reminds Christians everywhere that there is hope for a better tomorrow. I don’t think the message of hope for a better tomorrow is limited to just Christians. No matter if you are in Parkland, Florida, or Trebes, France or on Cape Cod, the world can be a dark place sometimes. But then, we meet Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrames and the gun-safety marchers and protesters, who came forward and reminded the rest of us that goodness is everywhere. Unfortunately, goodness isn’t always in the news.
As I’ve grown older on Cape Cod, I’ve seen more clearly the complexity of life here facing my neighbors and me. There’s the affordable housing shortage, the fragile aquifer that provides our drinking water, the eroding shorelines, the drug addiction crisis, the endangered marine life and the fishermen’s struggle to find a catch. There’s even the frustrating plastic water bottle and liquor nip bottle bans. Change comes slowly on the Cape, but change can be good.
For many, Easter Sunday is usually spectacular. It is filled with family dinners, special foods prepared just for this holiday, candy eggs and bunny rabbits for the kids. It usually falls at a time of the year when the spring season arrives and fills us with anticipation of warmer weather and outdoor activities.
On Easter Sunday, after the egg hunts are over, after the bonnets are put away, after the dinners are finished, recall the story of the Apostle Thomas, known forever in history as "Doubting Thomas," the Apostle who did not believe in the Resurrection until he could see Jesus in person. At times, like Thomas, we all can be skeptics and have doubts about tomorrow and whether things will change for the better. Some say hope is not enough; some say only seeing is believing; some say nothing will change. But a world without “beau geste” and the Resurrection is a place I’m unfamiliar with.
James E. Carroll lives in East Falmouth.
For information about how to submit a Letter to the Editor or Your Turn column visit Cape Cod Times letter and Your Turn submission guidelines.
Get the Cape Cod (sports/politics/news alerts) that matters delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our free (sports/politics/news alerts) newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Easter Sunday and the Resurrection bring hope and highlights goodwill
