Even though I really enjoyed my sabbatical time away, and it was amazing to see different countries and experience different cultures. One of the most striking things about the experience is how much it made me even more grateful for living in
In so many ways, we truly are the lucky country. True, no country is perfect, and each country and culture has its own blessing, but it is always nice to know where home is…. and there is so much to be grateful for in this country, the comparatively beautiful weather, the mild winters and the not-too-hot summers, the democratic freedom, relative freedom from overcrowding, a high standard of living, our natural resources, and any problems we might think we have in relation to overcrowding and pollution, has nothing on some of the countries I visited, not to mention the situation of health and unemployment support in some of these countries.
Today, we give thanks to God for the many gifts we have been given, and we are reminded that we live in a commonwealth… and that this commonwealth is for the common good…. the gifts we have are gifts to share for the benefit of each other…..
We pray that people everywhere will deepen their sense of belonging to a commonwealth for common good…. that there will be peace, respect, harmony and care for others in our society…. that we might always spare a thought for the person less fortunate, whether they be next door or in the next country……
And today, (as every day) we pray that our nation and its people, develop deep within ourselves a yearning for the values of Jesus’ beatitudes….. // humility,// gentleness, //passionate about ..and working for justice, //peacemakers,// single minded in serving God’s good vision for the world…..
it is good for us to stop and give thanks for God’s many gifts to us in this blessed Southern land of the Holy Spirit…..
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