My grandfather died when I was 42. He was 96 and lived well until three days before he died. I was amazed at the number of people at his funeral, far more than his family. He had never been in public office, had never done anything ‘great’ but all those people said the same thing about him over and over: ‘he was so good to us.’ Poppy was a pensioner, with no extra money, but he gave them what he had, kindness and interest. At his funeral, I thought, I want to be like that when I am old, and a response came from his spirit, ‘you start today’. Poppy left me with a vision to live by. Being kind and being interested in people is a great service to give.
This coming Saturday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration. This commemorates the time in Jesus’ life, when for a brief few moments, he let his disciples, Peter, James and John, see his glory, see what the goal of their lives was. They didn’t understand at the time, but it gave them a vision to live by. Decades later, Peter was writing about it, saying how it helped him understand the mystery of suffering and future glory. Twenty-five years later, I am still learning just how profound kindness and interest are in people’s lives, still unpacking Poppy’s vision. And not just me. Whenever I met up with my siblings, stories of Poppy invariably get told.
What is the vision that you live by? Who has inspired you, giving you an insight into becoming a better person, a person you would be proud to be? Over this next week, ponder on this, and when you have clarified your thoughts and ideals, share them with your children. It may be one of the best gifts you ever give them.
Loving God, you have sent good people into my life, people who I admire. Let me learn from their wisdom and let it give me a vision to live by, a vision to share with my child/ren. I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.
Sr Kym Harris osb
