Each month has a significant day that we observe. Over the course of history, these "special" days have taken on a more commercial or insignificant and meaningless day of observance.

If you think back to my first submission to "In My View," I wrote on the sad state of our Christmas celebrations. We have literally taken Jesus out of the picture and prefer to be noticed with lights and the most packages carried out of the stores!

I sincerely hope that this will change quickly as we are reminded of His soon return as King and Judge.

We have just celebrated Easter and again, the secular society looks at this special time as a long weekend only. Nothing wrong with that. But do we realize the significance of this special time? We are reminded of the fact we have been given an opportunity to embrace life to its fullest by accepting the free gift of redemption afforded to us by Jesus' unselfish sacrifice. He took our place and gave us the choice of eternal life.

There is an "air" of hope and change as we enter into the "spring" season. Easter time has always reminded us of closing winter and entering a brighter, warmer time of the year with renewed hope and looking forward to new fishing and hunting grounds with lots of daylight.

This is the same kind of feeling we have as we enter into a fresh new season of hope as we re-commit ourselves to the almighty through sharing the symbolism of the Lord's Table.

We renew our commitment, vision and hope for a more engaged and selfless approach to all around us.

I hope we always remember to put the Lord first in our lives and then others before ourselves.

And I hope you had a Happy Easter.

• Harry Maksagak is a Cambridge Bay resident and former underground miner at the Lupin gold mine. He has been married for 38 years and has six children and 26 grandchildren