Living with Strength and Kindliness
The Feather Prayer
Birds instinctively know how to care for themselves. They regularly groom or preen their feathers so they remain healthy. Birds layer disordered feathers to regulate the wings’ balance, pull out tattered and tough feathers to make room for new growth. They pick off parasites, such as lice, that carry disease, and take oil from the base of the feathers and spread it upwards for waterproofing. Like birds caring for their feathers, we must also groom our own feathers – to assure that we stay healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Compassion is a way of life – but you have to be kind to yourself first!
To be human is to be compassionate. We are born with an innate ability to be compassionate and kind. Scientists recognise that we are born with a range of capacities to be empathetic to one another. Historians have shared with us a multitude of self sacrificing, generous individuals who have marked the journey of time over many centuries. It is the main focus of theologians and spiritual leaders to elucidate and encourage this virtue. (In fact, it is a tenet of every religion in the world – and in secular realms is referred to as the golden rule).
The seeds of compassion contain great variety. The fruits of it are bountiful.
But, we often forget that compassion is not just a virtue that we should gift to others. It is important to nurture your own heart. To love oneself fully and nurture one’s own being is paramount to being able to give to others. This might include reflecting on one’s own core goodness; acknowledging and appreciating the gifts you have been given, disengaging from the rush of everyday life, hushing the voice of insecurity that may creep to the surface sometimes and reining in negative thoughts that may fleet across one’s mind.
Recognising our own talents and how we can play an important role in the lives of others can benefit both ourselves and those who we reach out to.
Compassionate God,
The Feather Prayer highlights the importance of self care for every creature in God’s Creation. This prayer of petition may be one that you can call on in times when you think that you need to reflect on ways you can be more compassionate to yourself!
Winged One of my life, you taught valuable lessons by observing the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Be my teacher as I now seek to be self compassionate.
I desire to pull out old feathers of negative self judgement, to remove tattered remnants of past thoughts about self that generate discouragement and lessen positive energy.
Help me to maintain a reasonable balance of inner peacefulness.
Oil my heart with your love through steadfast prayer and keep me flying freely on the wings of your grace.
Amen.
As Proverbs put it, ‘to acquire wisdom is to love oneself' (19:8).
** Acknowledgement – ideas derived from Joyce Rupp’s Prayers of Boundless Compassion
Kildare Education Ministries' Student Seminar Day
The annual Kildare Education Ministries' Student Seminar Day went online this year!
So, our Year 12 students leaders headed over to Perricoota Vines Resort last week, to engage in the day's activity in a conference style setting.
Students explored the Kildare Ministries' Value of Compassion. They were inspired by a speaker from Caritas Australia and were able to engage in some online networking with students from other KEM schools.
It was a valuable learning opportunity for our student leaders. They will use the inspiration from today to build a range of social justice initiatives for our school community over the course of the 2022 school year.
Kirrilee Westblade
College Leader - Catholic Identity