Selflessness
‘Greater love has no-one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John 15:13
Across our locations and in a variety of expressions, the Carey community recently acknowledged Anzac Day and Easter – two events which, whilst fundamentally different, are both founded on one truth: selfless love.
On Anzac Day we remembered with thanksgiving and grateful hearts those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time of war. Our hope is that the offering of their lives on our behalf will not be in vain as we focus afresh on the renewal of justice, freedom and peace.
Throughout the season of Easter, our attention turned toward the ultimate sacrifice made for us by God, through the death and resurrection of Christ, as the possibility of a personal connection and relationship between humans and God was established.
Easter, the most sacred and central moment on the Christian calendar, can be difficult to understand, but the story of Jesus, the Cross, the Tomb and the Resurrection is absolutely all about love; the kind of selfless love that can lead to learning, growth and transformative change in our lives, if we are open to thoughtfully considering the situation.
The question for us, as we reflect on both Anzac Day and Easter, is straightforward.
Can we be the sort of people who live lives of selfless love?
Encouraged by the men and women who fought for our future freedom, and inspired by our God who offers us the experience of ongoing love, can we replicate and reflect this selflessness within our daily lives? How can we be generous and humble people counteracting the world’s current focus on ‘me and ‘I’, by instead choosing to develop ‘we’ and ‘us’? Our global context of war, hate, division and disunity needs to change. We need to experience love, care, compassion, unity and strength. Now, more than ever before, we need people in our world and in our local communities who will lead positive change by being selfless.
“… Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but to the interests of others. In your relationships with people, try to have the same mindset as Jesus, who, despite opportunity did not consider equality with God something to be used for His own advantage; rather, He adopted the nature of a servant, and He humbled Himself for our sake, by becoming obedient even through suffering on the cross …” Philippians 2:3–8
Recently the staff at Carey were privileged to hear from a remarkable Australian woman named Moira Kelly. An amazing, tireless and selfless humanitarian worker, Moira inspired us all. Moira has invested her life into establishing charitable organisations, raising awareness and funds, and connecting seriously ill children to hospitals in situations where the individuals could not otherwise afford surgery and medical care – often working in the poorest sections of countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh; as well as with First Nations communities in Australia, and alongside the homeless and hungry in New York.
Moira Kelly is one example of selfless love. Her life’s actions serve as a reminder to us all that it is possible to live a full, wonderful, effective, meaningful, productive and flourishing life that is not focussed on ourselves, but on others; a life founded on selfless love.
Anzac Day teaches us this same lesson, as does Easter, the season of love; a celebration and an acknowledgement of the love offered to us by God which we then have the opportunity to share with others through our selfless choices.
Be encouraged to consider filling each day with selfless love, expressed through thoughts, words and actions.
Bless you.
Rev. Tim Edwards
Lead Chaplain
