Sunday Best: A new beginning?

The two stories of Easter.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 4, 2021 The first flowers of spring are poking through the soil, tentatively rising up as if wary that more snow could coat the ground again. But parkas are mostly stored away. Spring cleaning has commenced. It's Easter Sunday, which with its pastels, egg hunts and brunches, for many signals fresh hope and new beginnings. For some, like Esau McCaulley, it also means church, and a chance for reflection. "Christians, at their best, are the fools who dare believe in God's power to call dead things to life. That is the testimony of the Black church," he writes. "It is not that we have good music (we do) or excellent preaching (we do). The testimony of the Black church is that in times of deep crisis we somehow become more than our collective ability. We become a source of hope that did not originate in ourselves." — Alexandra March Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Illustration by Alvaro Dominguez; photographs by Getty Images What Can You Do Once You're Vaccinated? You have to do your own risk assessment. Here's how. By Tara Haelle Leonardo Santamaria What if the Pain Never Ends? I will still have to face it with dignity. By Melissa Febos Jacqueline Rogers from "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," HarperCollins Beverly Cleary Helped Boys Love Books I wanted to be Ralph, the mouse with the motorcycle. By David Levithan Illustration by Zak Tebbal; photograph by Somsak Bumroongwong/EyeEm, via Getty Images You Had Me at 'Has Never Filed for Bankruptcy' Tinder is trying to make it easier to obtain data on potential partners. That could create more problems than it solves. By Karen Levy Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Laura Peretti How Do I Define My Gender if No One Is Watching Me? Without a public eye, who are we? By Alex Marzano-Lesnevich Read the full Opinion report here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018