In a cheerful turn of events, new visitors to my blog discovered this March 2011 post. Easter Horse rides on! Easter blessings, Sue.

The cover of Mercedes’ card features traditional Easter symbols.

Easter Sunday is delightful in its festive predictability. The organist pulls out the stops. Choirs sing, handbells ring. Lilies. Alleluias.

Dyed and chocolate eggs. A lamb made of butter; a lamb made of cake. Jelly beans and Peeps. The [insert meat or vegetarian entrée here] made special with a new or very old recipe.

We know the story: Women go. Rolled stone. Jesus raised and revealed. Death defeated. Go and tell.

Sometimes we are blessed to hear the story in a new way. Easter alleluias sung through tears of grief are especially meaningful. The Easter service we share with a child or a new Christian recaptures our imagination.

Last year I was unexpectedly blessed by a girl’s Easter card, one of the cards sent in from Thabor Lutheran (Wausa, Neb.) to be sent on to ELCA missionaries. The front of Mercedes’ card featured a central cross, rainbows and an Easter basket. Sweet.

I opened the card and let out a hoot.  There, drawn on a white paper doily, was …

EASTER HORSE

“Easter Horse” by Mercedes (Thabor Lutheran, Wausa, Neb.)

The Rev. Twila Schock, Kathleen West and I took turns showing the card to colleagues at the Lutheran Center. We were delighted over and over again each time someone new opened the card and encountered Easter Horse. Twila was the best at keeping the joy fresh. Well into Pentecost she would ask, “Is this a job for Easter Horse?”

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

—Sue Edison-Swift (3/28/2011)