The story on sacrifice

So, I just finished watching the finale of the Doctor Who and without giving away too many spoilers, there was a lot of discussion about sacrifice ahead of personal happiness.

It's a topic that always brings up a lot of people either side of the fence. 

The thing is though is that regardless of which camp you are in, there is a time when you will be faced with the choice to sacrifice something you want for something that perhaps is for a greater good.

When we get down to choices like this, lots of things can come into our minds. Things such as:

1. Is this going to mean losing a loved one?
2. Is this going to affect me financially?
3. Is this going to put me back on my path?
4. Is doing this going to help others grow in their journey?

And there are many, many more questions besides these. The point is, sacrifice is hard. It's why so many of us don't do it.

True heroes however, as a Bishop said yesterday, are those who are willing to sacrifice their own needs knowing that something greater needs to be done.

As Gandolf says in Lord of the Rings after Frodo complains about having to sacrifice his home to go destroy the ring - "So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

It is so easy for us to use our time to look at the things that matter to us and make sure they are happening, It's a lot harder for us to look outward and see that there is so much more to do and that sometimes means we need to give up our own wants for the good of others.

God calls us however to sacrifice. He sacrificed the greatest gift of all, his son so that we can be saved and in being called to follow his example, we almost must prepare as his children to sacrifice in our own lives.

Some of these sacrifices may only be small - like having a little less money to spend on coffee so that we can support those working to help people living on the streets. Others, will be much bigger.

The key to any sacrifice however is to always remember that in doing so, there will be a much greater outcome. We wouldn't do it otherwise.

Whether our sacrifice is calling us to give up money, power, control, comfort or even those things most valuable to us, it is important to remember that our personal want is sometimes not the best thing for the situation and no matter how much we want, we can't let that get in the way of what needs to happen for God's will to occur.

Sure sacrifice hurts- it's not meant to be easy, especially when it means giving up something you love for the sake of someone or something else, but it's crucial for our world to survive and for us to continue to grow in our faith journey.

There's too many people willing to take the easy road and stay comfortable, but we are called as Christians to take the long, narrow one- one in which sacrifice is a part of ensuring salvation.

And we do it knowing that in the end, the greatest reward will come.

Till next time...

The saints are coming - Part 2 - Be the best you can be!

Happy All Saints Day everyone!

I don't know what it is, but there's something about All Saints day that I always look forward to.

It's an opportunity to remember the incredible groups of people who have helped ensure our amazing faith remains strong. It also allows us to take a moment to appreciate the hard work these people did, the sacrifices they made and the way they love God.

If I'm honest though, as I've grown older, the real reason why I love All Saints Day and any time where I get a chance to read about the Saints is that these people are ordinary, normal, everyday people just like me, but they give me hope I can achieve great things by the way they lived out their lives.

As a video I watched on Saints says "most saints are ordinary anonymous men and women".

Earlier this year, I wrote about how we are all called to be saints and spoke about how we need to step out of the lives and be saints, following the great Saints example and growing in humility along the way.

It's easy however to say that we can all be saints. It's a lot harder to get started and actually live the life of one.

While being humble is part of it, the Saints were more than just humble, they also were people who changed the world for the better in all that they did.

The thing that we need to realise for our own lives as saints is that, they all did this task in very different ways.

St Paul for example, was a witness of being saved by God, where as St Nicholas of Myra was an example of believing in God in every circumstance and of generosity. St Joan of Arc went into battle with weapons where as Blessed Mother Teresa also went into battle, but in a very different way as she battled illness, cared for the dying and built a future for young women.

None of the Saints did something that was better than the other- they are all seen equally as being inspiring in the path of God. They were all different but they all had one goal- to do God's will for their lives to the best of their ability.

Every man and woman has a talent, gift or ability that is uniquely theirs. Sure there may be similarities, but the way a persons personality interacts with their skill makes it unique to them and them alone.

God put each one of us on this earth to use that unique ability to change the world for the better. He calls us  to sainthood by giving us the opportunity, as people of faith, to answer this call everyday of our lives. 

Now that might seem like a big task so if you're struggling for ideas, here's some hints as to how you can be a modern saint in the world today...

• If your talent is talking, then get out there and spend time with those who are lonely or don't fit into society. Your words of support and friendship could change a life.
• If your talent is helping out others, then start organising fundraisers and events that raise money or just go out and help by volunteering wherever needed.
• If you like making computer programs, then why not make programs that help make lives better, especially those most in need.

One of the main reasons I write these pieces is because I have realised that one of my talents from God is inspiring others and I can also write, so put these two together and this is what I came up with.

Whether you are cleaning a floor or are balancing accounts for a major corporation, you matter and the gifts you possess will lead people closer to Christ if you're willing to live out his name in all that you do.

So what are you waiting for, get out there from this All Saints Day and go and become the saints that God called us all to be.

Till next time..