Easter has its share of traditions: egg decorations and hunts; gift baskets and chocolate bunnies, sunrise church services and and, of course, the Easter Lily. For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life these are the spiritual essence of Easter.

The 24th chapter of Luke reads:
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen!

If you are of a different faith, I still believe that Easter can be a time of spiritual renewal – new spiritual life as spring returns to nature each year.