People of Spirit

Drs Richard Harris and Craig Challen inspired us. They were highly qualified and trained in their field of work and maybe even more so in their field of play: underground cave diving. When asked, they stepped into that most dangerous of rescues, that of the Wild Boar 13 in Thailand. They did our country proud and deservedly they were named Australians of the Year. There is a spirit within such people that transforms challenging situations into something positive, something within them that makes every post a winner. Personally, I am even more inspired by the people who deal with their addictions to alcohol, drugs or gambling. Each day, every day, they have to humbly face the crack that runs across their heart just to maintain normalcy. We do not see how heroic their lives are when they are successful, because they seem so…. well, normal.

We are inspired by these people because we too want to be people of spirit. No matter how ordinary we are, something in our hearts desires greatness. And this is what God wants for us too. We weren’t created in God’s image and likeness just to be ordinary. We are to be works of divine art. For most us, this art lies within our family relationships. These long-term relationships can humble us but they can also be our glory. To love and to be loved, deeply and humbly, is the greatest human achievement: it is the work of God in our lives. Each day, every day, God’s Spirit comes to us offering grace, divine help, so that we can love as God loves.

Loving God, help us to live our lives in your love. Filled with your Spirit, we can show the face of Jesus to all who we love, and from them we can receive his love. We ask this in his name, confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb