March 30, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: This coming Sunday, Easter Sunday, is a day of resurrection. I am one of over two billion Christians who believe that this event changed the world forever. Yet we also often use the word “resurrection” in our small secular world when a change happens few expected. It occurs when we think we know everything. And, of course, we don’t.
Allow me to mention a few local examples. When I-81 was completed most thought that U.S. 11 would gather dust. When a small women’s college on a hill in Buena Vista closed its doors, everyone thought that was the end of higher ed in BV. They were right about the horses, but very wrong about education. Ever view an early street map for a town called East Lexington? It was a lovely residential gird, no motels, restaurants or gas stations. And there were those vacant lots in Glasgow sold to the good Scots across the sea. Some are still vacant, but not the carpet factory.
And what about our coffee shops? When I moved here Lexington had one and that soon closed. Now, how many? I need two hands to count them. Has there been a coffee resurrection or did folks forget that coffee with conversation never dies.
As for VMI, a couple of generals have tried to kill it off. First it was General Hunter, now it is General Assembly. No resurrection, just a school that refuses to surrender.
Today there a political debate within Virginia on how best to attract and build new data centers. Just wait 10 years or so and the debate will be over. Those huge centers will go the way of today’s abandoned shopping malls. It’s called progress, not a resurrection.
Get the picture? We think we can predict the future. We can’t because we never know how people will behave. Ask car dealers stuck with all those EVs on their lots. It’s good to humble ourselves. Let’s not call our wrong guesses resurrections. There was only one. I prefer to call it Easter. DAVID REYNOLDS Rockbridge County
