Editorial

It is inescapable that in a school students, parents and staff are very aware of the proximity of the holidays. One week to go and there is so much that needs to be done before Easter. For teachers and students, the units are finishing so there are assessments and marking. For parents (some of whom are teachers) there is preparing and planning for the school break. It has been a very busy term for us all. And this creates the temptation to lose sight of what Easter is really about. It celebrates the genuine pivot point in the history of the universe. 

Our culture continues to head down the road of signing up for the “me first” religion. Most of us would say that we do not subscribe to that religion. Let me describe the core beliefs and see if that might describe most of us, or maybe gut reactions even you have at times. 

1.  Our feelings are the guiding force in our lives – I feel good about this therefore it is good and I should be able to act accordingly. 
2. We are largely motivated by the desire to be happy – deep down we think that life is supposed to be happy and so we work toward that. 
3. The worst thing someone can do is to judge another for their personal beliefs or feelings – no one else knows what our lives are like or how we really feel so no one else can tell me what is right or wrong, normal or abnormal.  

I acknowledge that navigating feelings and personal beliefs when we don’t agree is a very difficult road, perhaps the hardest for us humans. However, just stepping back from attempting to engage in the search for who we really are and going with the tenants above we end up with a fur baby situation. A child feels like it would be nice to be a cat, it makes them happy so the rest of the community must accommodate and not judge. Some schools actually do this by supplying litter boxes in classrooms. (To be clear, PVCC does not do that) 

What has that to do with Easter? 

Have you noticed that our culture is moving down the road to despair and cynicism. We are clearly seeing this in our youth who have been allowed or even encouraged to follow the principles above. The “me first” religion just is not working. There is increasing polarisation in Australian society and at the same time people miss that common connection that is community. Our culture encourages self-focused and expressive individualism but the rate of loneliness for teens (and others) is through the roof. 

When you stop believing and seeking the real truth it all goes to custard. 

There is nothing new in this. Jesus stepped into a world that was very similar and instead of condemning he loved the unlovable. He preached love for God, each other and ourselves. He said there was a better and more fulfilling way, but you had to take your eyes off yourself to find it. He said he is the way, the truth and the life so we must look to him.  

He showed his commitment to loving us right up to dying on the cross for each one of us individually and collectively. And then he proved he was telling the truth by coming back to life.  

And history was forever changed. 

You have to let go of the “me” thing to find true meaning, contentment rather than happiness and a reason for living (for others). 

God bless you with a pause, a breath, and a revelation this Easter. 

John Metcalfe

Principal