resurrection of Jesus Christ and its promise of ever-lasting life is commemorated.

Easter has somehow receded in the popular imagination as an important holiday, taking second place to commercialised Christmas.

And here in Bermuda, we tend to look forward more to Good Friday -- not to mark the fact that this was day on which Christ was crucified, but for the local traditions of kites and fish cakes -- than Easter Sunday.

Nonetheless this is a good time for Christians and non-Christians alike to reflect on the lessons that Christ taught.

This applies particularly to this year because Bermuda has managed to get itself into a state of deep uncertainty.

Our politicians are bickering over Constitutional change and other issues.

Institutions which should bring people together and engender trust are instead under threat or divided.

Race relations are at a low ebb, with arguments about the past raging on amidst uncertainty about the future.

Social groups and clubs which should be the glue of the community are coming unstuck.

Many people, especially women, live in fear of violent crime.

Bermuda residents -- all Bermuda residents -- seem to be better at talking and complaining than actually doing and fixing.

What does this have to do with Easter? Christ's greatest lesson was the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

In other words, give people the respect that they deserve and have earned.

Treat people who are different from you with tolerance. Forgive those who may have hurt you rather than seek vengeance and ask for forgiveness from those you may have hurt.

Rule of law, not the rule of the strong, is the difference between a civilised community and an anarchic one.

Some of these lessons hit home yesterday, when the community came together to carry out those traditions which we all share; kites, codfish and marbles.

They should be a reminder that more unites us in our island community than divides us and that we have more to celebrate than to bemoan.

With open minds and tolerance, Bermuda can go from strength to strength. If we forget the golden rule, we are our own worst enemies.