Reflection for Fourth Sunday in Pentecost – from little things big things grow…
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few…” Luke 10:2
The decision of the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs Wade and the threat from some in the judiciary to repeal other laws such as marriage equality and gay rights has sent shivers of fear through many Americans and others in democratic societies worldwide.
On a personal note I received a distressed call from my daughter who was very worried that things in Australia could take a similar turn.
At the time our Diocese was meeting for SYNOD with several of similar issues being debated: blessing of same sex marriages, the crafting of an apology from our church to the LGBTQiA+ community and fidelity and integrity of ordained people in their relationships.
Listening to the debates and the gift of personal stories being shared amongst those gathered, the pain-filled voices on both sides of debates resonated in that place. And my daughter’s cry and those of so many others seemed to join in.
At lunch on one day of the meeting I heard in passing a live performance of that much loved song “From little things big things grow” and just recently the ABC published a story about the songwriter, Kev Carmody and his life.
As a member of the stolen generation, Kev recalls the herculean efforts his parents made to hide him for 10 years from the authorities. When the 1967 referendum gave indigenous Australians the right to vote, Kev remembers his father turning to his mother and saying ‘Now you can vote’…and his mother replying “Well, what does that mean?”
In this nation of Australia, we are constantly asking the question – What does being Australian mean at this time and this place? And I guess we were all asking at SYNOD a similar question: What does being Christ followers in the Anglican tradition mean at this time and place?
The magnificent Kev Carmody’s powerful song ends with the following words:
Well, that was the story of Vincent Lingiari
But this is the story of something much more
How power and privilege can not move a people
Who know where they stand, and stand in the law
From little things big things grow….
The discussions and stories I heard at SYNOD this past weekend would have been unheard of when I was first ordained over 11 years ago. And I will take Kev’s story and my SYNOD tale to my daughter to hold onto in hope and encouragement.
For anyone who would like to read the ABC article the link is: Kev Carmody
Blessings
Ceri
