Best or Worse
I live at Tanby, a locality of Yeppoon, but am presently in Perth looking after my brother’s family while he has cancer treatment overseas. Most people reading this will realise that Yeppoon has bad fires at the moment, very bad fires. I am following from afar, mostly through the Yeppoon Families Facebook page and I have been moved to tears by the courage and generosity that my community is showing towards those in need. Our community is big enough that many do not personally know the people they are helping. That doesn’t matter. What does matter is that this situation is calling for the ‘Best’ from people and they are responding. Yes, there are some for whom this situation will bring out the ‘Worse’ but I don’t want to dwell on them.
What is happening in my community is being done right across Australia at present, yes even here in WA, and will continue to be done for some time. We know it is going to be a long, hard summer. And we will respond with our ‘Best’. That’s what challenges can do: bring out the best in us.
And so can the ordinary challenges we face in daily life: getting the kids out the door to school, dealing with illness, caring for our elderly. Each day, every day we have choices to make as to whether we will go with our best or worse. And sometimes it can be hard. Even the smallest things can need courage to face. And it is in those situations, we mostly need God. A relative joked the other day that my prayer life now must be, ‘God, get me through this day!’ True, as it would be for any parent. So, let us hang in there, and with God’s grace, give it our best shot. And if it doesn’t look ‘pretty’ that doesn’t matter, we will have tried our best.
Loving Father, you alone all the challenges I face every day. You know when I am weak and feel overwhelmed. Give me the wisdom and courage to do my best in each situation and let me not worry about the rest. Give your strength and courage to those facing and fighting fires at this time. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.
Sr Kym Harris osb