From the Chaplain

Sacrifice

I’m writing this reflection at the end of four days with Year 11 on their Expedition to Emu Gully Adventure Education Centre near Toowoomba.  True to its name, over that short time everyone did encounter Adventure (which sometimes took us well and truly out of our comfort zones); a Gully (and a reasonably steep one, as we discovered on our Night Hike!); an Emu (named Ernie – he was especially keen on our apple cores); and Education. Not just learning about ourselves, or those within the Year group. Some of the learning that made the most impact, came from people whom we didn’t know, and will never meet.

We learned their names: Alexander Ross, John Metson, Herbert Foxton, and others. And we heard their stories: generally ordinary backgrounds, commonplace family situations – until they went outside their comfort zone to the scary, unknown situation of fighting to defend their country and people in war.  Their stories became those of unsung heroism; of courage in the face of pain, fear and death; and of Sacrifice – giving of themselves, for the sake of achieving good for others.  I encourage you to look up these people and find out about them for yourselves!

Listening to their stories – and their great and sometimes unfathomable acts of sacrifice – was humbling; but it was also a reminder that Sacrifice is both a decision and an action.  To decide to give up your own comfort and benefit for the good of others is one thing; but to follow up on that decision brings it into reality.  It’s the case for every act of sacrifice in life, whether little or big.

The finish of our school term is sandwiched halfway between two significant events in our calendar that illustrate the nature of sacrifice: Easter, and ANZAC Day.  They both reflect the words that Jesus spoke in John’s Gospel: ‘Greater love has no-one than this, they they lay down (or sacrifice) their life for their friends.’ As we look back, and forward, to these events, may we be always thankful for the sacrifice of others, for our good – especially that of Jesus, who gave Himself not only for ‘friends’, but for all…

Rev. Mark Rundle

Calrossy Chaplain