Easter returns once again, as it has for centuries, bringing with it the hopes of a new season, the continued growth of a new year, the excitement of a young century.

We marvel as the ancient symbols of spring repeat themselves: the first bright yellow daffodils contrasting with the brown soil; cows calving, the young standing on unsteady, pipe-cleaner legs; the increasing warmth from the sun as faces of all ages turn upward to greet it.

There comes the greatest mystery of all: why God so loved mankind he gave his only begotten son so that the human race could have a second chance to try to put evil behind it. Each spring, at Easter, we are given the opportunity to renew our commitment not only to love God, but to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Today, seize the opportunity.

Christianity as a force is shifting to developing countries, to cultures once considered inhospitable, such as India or sub-Saharan Africa. Just as it has since the time of Christ, it is evolving.

Yet we here in the U.S. Southwest today can embrace it as faith – the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Happy Easter.

(Editor’s note: While Easter is a forward-looking holiday, it is also a fitting time for remembrance. The above editorial was written by the late Morley Ballantine, then the Herald’s editor and chairman of the board. It was first published on Easter Sunday, April 15, 2001.)