Inspire

Ask R U OK? Any Day

I can hardly believe that we are already halfway through Week 9 and nearing the end of Term 3 and approaching Concert week. What a term it has been, filled with wonderful events and opportunities for our children to shine. Naturally, it has also come with its challenges: the busyness of school life, the wave of winter illnesses, and the expected ups and downs that each of us face in daily life. Last Thursday’s R U OK? Day served as a timely reminder to pause and check in. As I reflected, I felt grateful for the way care is shown here at St Paul, not just on one day, but every single day.

R U OK? Day acts as an important reminder. It encourages us to ask the simple but powerful question: “Are you okay?” I sometimes wonder if a single day can capture the depth of what this really means. That’s why this year’s theme, “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” resonates so strongly. It reminds us that genuine care is not tied to a calendar date. We don’t need to wait until September to check in with someone; we can ask, listen, and show care on any day of the year.

In John’s gospel, Jesus says: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). 

These words remind us that love is not just a feeling, but something we live out in action. At St Paul, we see this every day: the kindness shown to a child working through hard feelings, the patient listening ears of staff, or a quiet moment of prayer shared for someone in need. When we show love in these ways, we not only support one another, we also reflect the love of Christ for all to see.

The R U OK? approach outlines four steps: Ask, Listen, Encourage Action, and Check In. These steps are practical, but they also mirror the compassion Jesus modelled. When we follow them, we help carry each other’s burdens and reassure one another that no one has to face challenges alone.

As we move toward the final days of the term, with the busy excitement of Concert and end of term routines, may we keep looking out for one another and also give ourselves permission to slow down, breathe, and receive the same care we so freely give. It’s in these simple acts of kindness that we see God’s love at work among us.

Submitted by Jessica Robinson