From the Director - The mirror of our lives

When I was a student at the seminary one of the staff, Fr John McGrath suggested that we keep a book of quotes. He said when we came across a quote, long or short, that seemed to leap off the page at us, write it down, the name of the book, author and page on which the quote could be found. I liked the idea and started the practice immediately. At least 40 years later, I am still doing it. I am on my third book of quotes, the third being only one quarter full which indicates that I am highly selective.

Some of the quotes don't 'speak to me anymore as I failed the basic rule laid out by Fr McGrath, of writing down the essential details of why the quote made such a strong impact on me at the time.

Recently I read a few lines from John Shea, the American poet; unfortunately I cannot remember it's name but the words go something like this……

one thing we are promised
that our lives are not without purpose
and we are not overlooked.

Whilst many people can't believe this is true, these words just stayed with me for many years; this is God's view of us.

Author, Sally Vickers also has a couple of quotes in my latest book of quotes from her novel, The Other Side of You. One of the characters is a doctor who deals with people who have failed to commit suicide. There is a comment from one of his patients which struck me: "the problem is not about dying, the real problem is about not knowing how to live. I think about that quite often."

These words might seem to be a long way from missionary concerns but as Pope Francis, said last year in his World Mission Sunday address; "mission is not just geographical or cultural, but aimed for the heart of every man and woman."

A person doesn't have to be a Christian to reach out to those who struggle with being overlooked or having lives seemingly without purpose. We believe that God is present in these situations, which brings an added challenge - we need to be as respectful of the other, as Jesus was. It is like looking into a mirror and the image reflected back is 'Jesus in me'.

This is my outlook for 2014.

Fr Gary Walker
director@columban.org.au

 

LISTEN TO: From the Director - The mirror of our lives
(Duration: 4.20mins, MP3, 1.98MB)

Read more from The Far East, January/February 2014