Easter – Breath of the new season

The transition into April in Jamaica is more than just a change on the calendar. It isn’t just the subtle change in the humidity or the sharpening of the midday sun. It is a spiritual and cultural exhale.

We stand at the threshold of a new season, anchored by an Easter weekend that serves as the island’s ultimate master class in balance, the balance between the solemn and the celebratory, the old world and the new.

In our towns and villages, the rituals of the season begin long before the first slice of bun and cheese is shared. There is the quiet anticipation of Good Friday, a day when the island seems to hold its breath. Many still look to the Physic Nut tree, watching for the “blood” that folklore says marks the crucifixion, while others peer into glasses of egg whites at dawn, searching for silhouettes of the future. These traditions are more than mere superstitions. They are reflections of a people who have always looked for meaning in the elements around them.

But the essence of this month lies in the transition. We move from the black attire of Friday’s mourning to the radiant whites and vibrant colours of Sunday’s resurrection. This movement is the heartbeat of Jamaican resilience. It reminds us that we are a people who know how to navigate the “Good Fridays” of life – the moments of loss, silence, and stillness – knowing full well that a Sunday morning is inevitable.

CALL TO RESILIENCE

As the Easter Monday breeze blows, carrying colourful kites towards the clouds, we see a literal representation of our own potential. A kite cannot rise without the resistance of the wind. Similarly, the changes evolving around us, as constant as the breeze, are not forces to be feared. They are the very things that allow us to soar.

This April, let us not be afraid of the shifting tides. Within every Jamaican lies a “treasure of resilience” that has been forged through history and tempered by faith. Whether you are gathered at a riverbank, sitting in a pew, or simply sharing a meal with loved ones, remember that every ending in this season is merely the soil for a new beginning.

Prepare yourself to turn your ideas and thoughts into a fresh start. Never be afraid of change. As the sun shines and the wind blows, changes are happening all around us. The greatest source of resiliency and inventiveness is found within you.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com