³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rachel Gardner, President of the Girl’s Brigade.

Good morning.

Recently I watched the Disney film Frozen II with my children. There’s a moment where Kristoff (the kind hearted boyfriend) is reunited with Anna after she’s been out rescuing her sister Elsa. Anna apologises for going into the fight alone. Instead of displaying a bruised ego or expressing jealously Kristoff says, ‘It’s OK. My love is not fragile.’ No wonder he’s been named Disney’s best hero.

My family and I live opposite a hospital so when the nation took part in the weekly #clapforcarers and key workers we would stand at our front door, banging pots and pans to thank everyone within ear shot for putting themselves in the path of danger to care for us all. It was an incredible expression of love and solidarity as a grateful nation gave voice to not only their thanks, but their commitment to value what matters most.

This pandemic is revealing many things, but one to truly celebrate is the truth that though we may be fragile and frail in the face of a virus, there’s still something inside that overcomes. We may all be in incredibly difficult times, but we have an extraordinary capacity to stay strong through adversity.

Jesus was no stranger to hardship, enduring rejection, resistance, betrayal and cruel suffering at the hands of others. His was a life of selflessness that Christians see as a model for all of humanity. And through it all he chose love over hate, forgiveness over bitterness, and hope over despair.

May you receive in Christ’s name the courage to put one foot in front of the other. May your eyes be fixed on a hope that is certain and true so that you whatever suffering or struggle you face, you know that you can endure.

Amen.