From the Chaplains

The Apostle Paul quotes Jesus in Acts saying, “It’s more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35).  

Is giving greater than receiving?  

Acquiring things is part of our world. As a nation we celebrate our Olympic champions, bringing home the gold. With each medal we receive the national pride is raised. And we love the security of having stuff don’t we? We’re a culture often addicted to the emotional boost of buying something new. 

As a girl, my favourite book was Anne of Green Gables – maybe I loved her because she was a dreamer, maybe I loved her because she was bit of an outcast, maybe I loved her because she thrived on creating opportunities for young women to flourish. 

There is this one quote that has always stuck with me, that I want to share with you: 

“It’s not what the world holds for you, it’s what you bring to it.” 

Yes, we each of us have a destiny to live, a unique purpose for our lives. But here we are reminded that we are not to live our lives, waiting for doors to always open and opportunities to come our way, like the world owes us something. Our Olympians have shown us this, in the years of giving themselves to their sports through icey cold early morning starts, intensive training and sacrifice. 

It is in their giving, that they receive… and we receive as a nation. 

Like the Apostle Paul, our Olympians remind us to bring the best of ourselves to the world. To bring our kindness to strangers, to bring honour to those leading us, care for those who need support, to be a gift to those around. For it is in the giving, that we and our world receive.  

With this in mind, let us pray the Prayer of Peace with St Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 

Creator, help me comfort not just to be comforted, to  understand as well as understood, to love even as I am loved. For it is in forgiving that we are forgiven, it is in giving of ourselves that we receive life.  

Amen. 

Reverend Cass Blake

College Chaplain