Transforming our hearts

I ALWAYS have a bit of a reaction every time I hear our national tagline, “Australia: The Lucky Country. ”

By definition, luck is something that happens to some while others miss out completely. It happens by chance rather than by intention or reason.

Some years ago I heard this reflected at a refugee advocacy event in which the UK born speaker described named the sheer luck of being born into a cultural heritage that was warmly welcomed into Australia, while those with the bad luck of being born in cultures troubled by war, disaster or unreconciled histories had fewer options and far more obstacles before they could access the same blessings this nation has to offer.

Every January 26 it occurs to me that I long for this country to boast that our blessings flow not by chance, but by the design of our hearts, and this year at Maleny’s annual Ceremony of Mourning the Dispossession, the yearning among us was palpable.

To hear the honest story of this land is to be reminded no agenda or ambition should ever unfold without the voices of conscience in the thick of it, and for Christians, this is the space in which our Beatitudes hold us to account.

Jesus begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” – those led not by status or riches or makers of difference, but by the disposition of hearts. He continues, “Blessed are those who mourn” – who recognise injustice and respond in

with Rev’d Deborah Bird Maleny Anglican Church

solidarity. “Blessed are the meek” - those convinced of the good of a humbler way of walking. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” –who yearn for the reconciliation of all people and with creation.

The beatitudes articulate a perspective through which to approach our difficult and true stories.

They ask us to be honest about what drives our behaviour. Is it fear? Entitlement? Concern? They measure our communities against our neighbour’s well being - the neighbour stressed by housing pressures or new to Australia, our indigenous neighbour bearing systemic wounds in a world that rarely stops still to listen.

The beatitudes take the golden rule, treat others as you wish to be treated, and describe a path upon which the Christ’s Rule of Love comes near, in which the community of truth, justice and compassion we yearn for might unfold.*

As we walk toward referendum I continue to pray that we might be a nation made famous for transformed hearts and attitude of unflinching compassion.

Peace and grace, Rev’d Deb

*For more on the Beatitudes I thoroughly recommend Dave Andrew’s book, Plan Be.

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