Let her rip!

This past week began and ended with my having a renewed sense of energy.  By the end of the week, I was presented with a realization where this energy was to be channeled.  It all happened suddenly and unexpectedly, as most great movements in my life happen.  As I say and know, God must ultimately be planning my life, as I never could do it so wonderfully, myself.  As I proceed in my journey, I just pray and hopefully remian open to the right time and inspiration.  So a new, life direction opened up spontaneously, again this week.  

For so long, I have known that it is time for me to move on, as I have been in the same work roles for far too long, which is neither healthy for me nor those around me.  This strongly present, "moving on" theme has never been primarily about location but how.  So once again, I have had no plan.  I just look and pray for a way ahead.  Then an inspiration comes to me and I am led along the way to go.  

This week, I was at Caritas meetings all week.  On the last day, I was sitting there hearing a call from the Regional Director, for someone to come forward and assume a needed leadership role.  I heard her description of the person being sought and knew immediately inside that this was me.  There came that impelling feeling inside me, such that I knew, from before in my life journey, that Gos was calling me.  So "put your hand up, Murray, and bite the bullet".  And I did.  

Let her rip!  Whatever the barriers, whatever the fears, whatever the questions, let her rip!  It is the only way to go.  

We are part of something BIG

My working week began with my everyday, public bus ride, which surprisingly turned out to be a refreshing life experience, thanks to meeting up yet again with a most friendly bus conductor, whom I know from my traveling on the buses here for many years.  

She was immediately excited to see me again, welcoming me aboard her bus.  Yes, she asks me all the usual questions - You live alone? You have a daughter?  The list goes on, but I see through it, as the list does not define her conversation with me.  I think she is truly fascinated by me, an older farang, who goes to work and lives alone.  What I experience with her is friendliness and a chance to connect with the real Thailand.  

She may be the working class woman, the simple bus conductor, but she is not to be underestimated.  The bottom line is she is real and readily friendly, something I seldom experience in My Bangkok. 

So she opens up the door to something much bigger than she or I, while she doesn't even realize it, for she gives me entry to life in the raw, in daily Bangkok.  She reminds me that, no matter who we are, we are part of something much bigger than ourselves, for we are part of the shared Human Project of Life, within which we each have our place and a role to play, a role that is indispensible to the overall theatre of humanity.  

The truth is that our seemingly little role in the scheme of life makes its contribution to the running of the world, which would be less without us.  We are all needed to make the world what it is.  So let no one be put to the side or devalued.  

Within God's narrative of creation, we all have a place, we each enjoy a dignity shared by all humanity and we all play a part in God's plan.  While we are small players, we are part of something big, to which we all make our own, unique contribution.  

Transformation is Possible

We are in the midst of the Season of Creation, an annual ecumenical time for focusing on our relationship with Creation.  In his message for this season, Pope Leo acknowledges that we have caused tremendous destruction to creation, but he does not leave it at that, for he also affirms that it is never too late to turn away from our harmful ways.  He thus calls us to a renewal of our hearts and much more -  "profound conversion".  The call issued is clear.  We are called to "transform harm into life".   . 

Sound too daunting?  Well, no, it is possible.  Transformation is possible.  I know through personal experience.  Let me recount a recent and simple story that speaks so strongly to me on this.  

Due to a misunderstanding in language, a rift opened up between a member of the community and me.  I could not do anything about it, except assure the person that my few words meant no harm and only spoke of my sense of humour.  This rift has carried on for sometime, with my thinking how silly and choosing to stand back and let things be.  

Well, yesterday's Gospel reading focused on church order and the role of church in righting wrongs and forgiveness.  This gave me the opportunity to publily apologise during my homily for any wrong I may have caused anyone in the community.  Well, lo and behold, to my great surprise, this had a real impact as this same person acted afterwards, towards me, in a way, that showed all is now forgiven.  

I was pleasantly shocked.  Someone actually listens to me and does something to show they did listen.  Amazing!  In this case, transformation happened at the micro level, which showed me that transformation can truly happen at the macro level.  Say no more!