Easter offers Australians a rare four-day break, but beyond the chocolate and time off lies a profound message about life, renewal, and community. This week, we explore the significance of Easter with psychologist Collett Smart, Vision Christian Media CEO Phil Edwards, and Wayside Chapel CEO Jon Owen.
The Why Behind the Weekend
While it’s special that Australia marks important occasions with time off, Phil says that most people don't delve deeper into the why behind Easter.
“I'd be bold enough to say it's actually the most important weekend to celebrate in the history of mankind,” he says. “Even our calendar is set around Jesus Christ as a central figure of history.”
Through Vision Christian Media, Phil brings communities across Australia the opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture embedded in Easter – the resurrection of Christ.
“We don't just need new life at Easter time. We need it every day of the year,” Phil explains.
The Power of Pause and Reflection
Collett emphasises the psychological importance of the opportunity Easter presents to enforce pause in our busy lives. Rest isn't merely nice to have – it's essential for restoration and wellbeing.
“Our calendar gives us permission to just rest and pause and start to focus on something other than work,” she says. “When we have times that we pause, we often make intentional decisions about what's important in our lives.”
These moments allow us to spend time with loved ones, engage in family traditions, and find meaning beyond our professional lives. Collett says that regardless of religious background, taking time to reflect is beneficial for psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Life, Death, and Rebirth: A Universal Pattern
For Jon, Easter is Wayside Chapel's grand final weekend – even more significant than Christmas. The pattern of life, death, and rebirth resonates deeply with people experiencing homelessness and hardship.
“The pattern of Easter is the pattern of our lives,” Jon says. “If you don't transform your pain, you'll transmit it. That is one of the great lessons of Easter.”
At Wayside Chapel, Easter is celebrated with a roast pork dinner where millionaires sit alongside those who have just woken from sleeping rough – a beautiful picture of community.
Jon says that Easter's themes shouldn't be confined to one weekend. The message that death doesn't have the last word, that renewal is possible, and that community matters profoundly – these are lessons for everyday living.
Across the panel, Jon, Collett and Phil all agree that Easter's significance extends far beyond bunnies and chocolate.
Whether through faith, psychology, or community connection, the Easter season invites us all to pause, reflect on what matters most, and embrace the possibility of renewal in our lives.
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