Pentecost Sunday People of Spirit Jessica Watson captured the imagination of the people of Australia because she had spirit. Travelling around the world non-stop, by one’s self is not the sensible, practical thing to do at any age, let alone at 16 years. Even if one’s common sense questioned what she was doing, we were inspired to see someone so young taking herself so far in testing her ability to sail, to be alone and to live life to the fullest. Even in our ordinary life we have people of spirit around us all the time. I know people who have been faithful in the most difficult of marriages. I wonder how they have remained so positive in, what seems to me, to be a constant daily struggle living with someone with psychological problems. People who struggle with addictions have to go to amazing lengths just to be normal. We rarely notice the spirit it takes not to indulge in alcohol, drugs or gambling but God does. God knows the heart of such people. Each of us at different stages in our lives is offered opportunities by God to rise above ourselves, to become people of Spirit. For most of us, this is not in something dramatic but rather in our relationships with family or community. These opportunities don’t seem to make much difference on the world’s stage but they make a profound difference in how each of us is shaped as a person. We are to be God’s work of art, we are to be God’s glory…and God’s glory is us, each of us, fully alive. Jessica Watson probably felt most alive when facing gale force winds and huge seas. True, she would have enjoyed calm seas and delightful breezes but it was in the difficult times that she truly grew as a person. So for us. Difficult times are not easy to go though but they do transform us. This Pentecost take time to look back over your life and remember and reflect on those times of difficulty and challenge you have faced. As you ponder these in prayer, notice how the Holy Spirit sustained and changed you and give glory to God for the work of beauty and glory God is making you to be.
Sr Kym Harris OSB |