Happy Easter

Is it the full plastic eggs or is it the empty grave?

While working in South Dakota, my annual assignment was to shoot video of the Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn at the Governor's Mansion.

It was a sight - kids lined up and waiting for the signal to go, while surveying the grass before them and plotting a path to put their hands on the most eggs.

Some eggs had small pieces of candy while others held a tickets redeemable for a prize.

Even the little ones, wobbling as they ran on short legs across the lawn, stopped to fill their bags, baskets, or buckets formerly used for ice cream.  There were tears and cries from kids who came up empty in their quest and squeals of joy from those holding a fresh stash of Easter candy.

The disciples that first Easter morning thought everything was lost.  The grave was empty and no one knew or remembered what they had been told.

The plastic eggs left in the wake of little children tearing through their treats are a sad sight, but for the empty grave is a victory given to us.

Happy Easter - He is risen!   Here is the Easter story:

John 20: 1 - 20
Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag′dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  

So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.  

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;  for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

He is risen, indeed!