A Great Warmth
Terry Ratcliffe
An edited version of this story is in the book.
Through Cana I learnt the real values in life. How rich you are with the simple things. Most importantly, I learnt that God is in the lowly, simple places. That God is in the streets and back alleys, in the dirty and cold recesses of our big city. That there is a richness here not found in well-to-do places.
Two stories immediately come to mind. I had been walking around Taylor’s Square, and when I went to reclaim my locked-up bike, I found the cable cut and the bike stolen. I was devastated and angry. It was midday and as I walked along Oxford Street to catch a bus home, I bumped into one of the community guys for whom I had made dentures. He was drinking beer and, when I told him what happened, he offered me the bottle. I drank the lot. His gesture deeply affected me. Here he was–no money in hand, only a bottle of beer–suddenly seeming to really understand me. I felt a deep love for this man.
Another time the Cardinal was saying mass for the community – also in Darlinghurst. When it came time for communion, one of the first people up to receive communion was fond of alcohol and sure enough, when he came to drink the blood of Jesus, he scoffed the lot. It was a great effort not to burst out laughing.
What also had a very lasting effect upon me was the profound spirit of love and generosity within the community. Despite all our hang ups and problems and selfishness and brokenness, there is a great warmth and a sense of being part of this community despite being an outsider: despite your different background, there is no judgement put upon you and people who care about you, no matter who you are – that little bit of reaching out to another person.
Through my experiences with Cana, I am enjoying life in a way I never would without it. I have never been happier with so much less. I hope to teach my children these simple ideas–for it is much easier to find God there.
There is a great warmth and a sense of being part of this community despite being an outsider.