My family's tradition was to spend the day at the serene Badges Creek with extended family. I used think about this weekend all throughout year as it was my yearly chance to be engulfed by the sensation of God's creation. Did this teach me anything about the real reason of Easter? Well, Jesus was never the subject of any conversation, but it did give me an amazing feeling about the Easter period.
The past three Easters have shown me another Easter tradition that helps preserve the wonder of Easter, but through a more significant, important, momentous, deep, profound way.
The mountainous morning dew is soaked up by the mid-morning comforting warmth of the sun. Early morning footprints lead from sheltered tents across to the shower block. Bacon and eggs sizzle on wood fired barbeques to energize the troops for another day. A steady sound of cars rolling up the mountain is the alarm clock that things are about to start. All feet converge to the highest point ready for four days of encountering God through the work Christ has done.
Easter conventions around the country are places of community. Young to old join together to re-work through the events of the cross. It is a focussed time of deeply understanding just how magnificent the act of Jesus dying and rising again is. All barriers are broken down as those gathered travel the journey of being humbled and then rejoicing.
The environment of the weekend is one which people yearn for making a tradition of. People of all ages are catered for and made to feel included. God helps the speakers make the Holy Week recorded in the Bible a true and necessary reality for every Christian's life. Responding to and glorifying God is made easier with the inclusive worship. The mission focus and expo help inspire and orientate lives toward responding to God's call in the Great Commission and help others understand and experience Easter.
People return year after year as friendships are made through the personal encounter of Easter time and established through the relaxed free time in the afternoons. Now with a young family this is the tradition we want to establish.
Danielle and Daniel Stott are Bible College graduates who live on the southern Gold Coast. Daniel is training to be a teacher and Danielle is caring for their baby daughter.
Danielle and Daniel's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/d-and-d-stott.html