Observe Repentance Day properly

TOMORROW is a public holiday, National Repentance Day.
This religious holiday was established in 2011 by former prime minister Peter O’Neill.
Repentance Day is intended to be a day of Christian prayer.
Repentance is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better.
And it starts off first with accepting responsibility: we should recognize that we have done wrong.
The second is regret: we should have true remorse for doing wrong and for the pain and problems we’ve caused.
The third is resolve: we should be committed never to repeat the act regardless of the temptations or situation. On the first Repentance Day in 2011, a large totem pole and other pagan symbols that adorned the parliament building were burned, sending a message that the country needs to repent from its pagan roots.
Anyway, whatever events organised tomorrow to mark it should be attended by thousands and regardless of what day it falls on, should be observed by way of complete stop on all business operations.
It is just one day in the year where the whole nation, irrespective of denominations, join hands in prayer for PNG.
People should go to church to pray and ask the Lord to forgive their nation for all the wrongs they’ve done.
This idea was not objected by the Muslims of Papua New Guinea, but they insist, that it would send a wrong message, that repentance should occur only once a year, instead of every time as something bad or wrong is done.
Churches throughout the country hold prayer ceremonies on this day.
Ceremonies around the country should be attended by national leaders, church leaders and representatives of the provinces of the state.
This day allows everyone to seriously think on our part about the future we want for PNG, the PNG we want for the next generation.
We have to make decisions, not for our children but with our children.
Religious values are not just personal concerns about our salvation.
They are essential to our identity and our culture.
The same should be given for National Remembrance Day, Easter and Christmas Day.
These holidays should be observed with great reverence as they are special days.
The National Remembrance Day is celebrated on July 23 each year.
It is a memorial day designed to honour PNG soldiers who died during military engagements, including the two world wars.
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion.
Remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin.
It is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and mostly celebrated as a family unit.
Shops have always been opened for trading, people shopping, sporting activities on just like a normal weekend during those days.
Turnouts at previous National Repentance Day activities have always been disappointing.
Especially for Repentance day, if it cannot be observed for its intended purpose then there is no need for it to be a public holiday, let the day be only observed.