As we head into the final weeks of school and the rush of Christmas, we can turn to the wisdom of Mary Mackillop to quieten our days and cope with the rush.

At a Mary Mackillop bush pub, somewhere along the road to Penola, some old cobbers gather on the verandah.

Suddenly a horse comes galloping past, with a desperate rider clinging to the reins. One old farmer calls out, “Where are you going?” and the rider shouts back, “Ask the horse!”

Living fully means doing whatever we’re doing with everything we’ve got. So it means not allowing ourselves to be dragged along by the busyness of life. There is so much wisdom in slowing down, breathing and enjoying the simple things. Perhaps our stop-doing list needs to be longer than our to-do list. As Shakespeare wrote in Romeo and Juliet, “They stumble that run fast.”

All will be right, with time and a little patience. Mary Mackillop 1873.

St Mary’s also prays for healing for those members of our school community who are suffering illness, grief, loneliness or despair.

“I will be with you, and will bless you.” Genesis 26:3