02/12/2013

From Father Brian D’Arcy a Catholic Passionist priest:

On these dark days in the run up to Christmas it’s vital to search for a guiding light. For Christians these are called Advent days. In Advent Christians prepare for Christmas spiritually and discover that the infant Jesus will be as the scriptures tell, a guiding light for all. Part of our preparations for the advent of Christmas is to recognise in the new born babe the “light of the world.” That takes faith and perseverance.

I firmly believe that perseverance is the secret to every triumph. It’s a strong person who can smile their way through trouble and who gains strength from distress.

Centuries ago the philosopher Thomas Paine said “Tis the business of little minds to shrink; the man of conscience pursues his principles until death.”

I love the story of the old violin maker who always chose the wood for his instruments from the north side of trees. He believed it was that side which was beaten and buffeted by the hardest and fiercest winter winds. When the winds blew, the bending trees groaned under the storm. Yet the violin maker didn’t feel sorry for them. “Listen,” he would say, “the trees are learning to be violins”.

When life is dark and difficult and when the winds of change break open our hearts, we become stronger through weathering the storms. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

By now I’ve discovered that change always seems impossible until it happens. So don’t give up when darkness comes. When you are going through hell it’s best to keep going.

A listener once wrote to me when I sounded jaded that: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence –talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

Education will not– the world is full of educated misfits

Persistence and determination are which solve the problems of the human race.” How right she was.

 People are like stained glass windows – we sparkle when the sun is shining, but when darkness comes, true beauty is revealed only when the light comes from within.