Easter Reflection

By Emily Booth of our Spiritual Care team

A few years ago, at Easter, I was staying with my sister and her family for the weekend. One afternoon we were all sitting around chatting and the kids were playing when my sister came into the room and placed a tray of fresh, warm hot cross buns on the table.

While we were relaxing, my sister, an absolute legend in the kitchen, had whipped up a batch of beautiful, homemade hot cross buns.

While we began breaking open and slathering the buns with butter, we noticed that something was missing from the buns. My sister explained that these so-called hot cross buns were “meant to have crosses on them but I couldn’t be bothered”.

“How can you leave the cross off the hot cross buns?” I hear you ask. Exactly. They’re simply not hot cross buns without the cross.

Beyond the buns themselves, the cross has always been a central part of my thinking about Easter, as I’ve come from a Christian faith tradition.

To me, the cross is a symbol of hope and reconciliation. It’s also the driving force behind my passion for the work I‘m privileged to perform daily in Baptcare’s Spiritual Care team. In today’s world, the symbols of hope we hold firm to are so important as we navigate our ever-complex lives.

This Easter, whatever your own background, faith or traditions, may you find symbols of hope to hold tight to and may your hope inspire and bring passion to all those around you.

Ever generous, my sister shared her hot cross bun recipe with me and every Easter I make my own. I’m not as accomplished as my sister at baking but I make up for any culinary deficiencies by making sure I have the best bit done well and secured right on top on the buns.

That’s right, my hot cross buns all have crosses!