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The Aussie Christmas holiday period usually brings with it high hopes for good times, celebration with family and friends, fun and relaxation and images of long lazy days spent at the beach or beside the sparkling turquise blue pool under the dappled shade of a tall palm tree. That would be my favourite place to be! Summer holidays spent with family and friends, with not much else to worry about other than to make sure everyone has enough sunscreen on during those long stints in the beautiful rolling waves, and when to light up the barbie for the evening feed.
Unfortunately my expectations and reality don’t always agree. In fact I can remember quite a few Christmas days that were abrubtly and dramatically upset. One year it was the first time I had the opportunity to host Christmas lunch and I had everything beautifully laid out only to be totally destroyed by a sudden storm. Another year my turn again to host lunch was literally evacuated due to a violent crime in our area with the criminals on the loose, and the nice policeman with the bullet proof vest not allowing anyone in or out of our rural area, (quite dramatic and memorable).
This Christmas presented us again with challenging circumstances and adjustments to my expectations had to be made yet again. With the floods in Qld my husbands income was dramatically affected. But it was the three days before Christmas that bought the greatest challenge when our close friend Rory Michael Mulligan passed away after his struggle with cancer. This especially hit our two eldest daughers, Danica in particular, as they had been great friends. It was difficult to celebrate Christmas especially thinking of this family who had just lost their dear son and brother.
Rory’s life had left a deep impression on us, although only 19, Rory lived more in his 19 years than some do in 60. He was a young man full of courage, perserverance, determination , joy and a very positive spirit. His life although short has inspired, influenced and challenged us to be thankful and positive no matter what life throws at us and to do the best we can with what we’ve been given in life. Rory was known for his infectious smile, personal sense of style, his love for his family and his music. Rory’s frail weak body was overshadowed by his growing strength, courage and positive attitude inspite of knowing that he was given 2 to 12 months to live and he lived his life with all the strength he could muster. He went to the U2 concert in Brisbane determined to walk quite a distance on his one leg and crutches. He attended youth camp only weeks before he died with a desire to inspire the young kids attending, and shared of his experiences at his home church sharing how everyday he considered himself a winner not a loser, because he counted every moment and blessing a victory and made the most of the time he had.
I have never met such a polite and respectful young man as Rory, who introduced himself when we moved into the house up the road. Our girls and their circle of friends became firm friends and just loved to hang out together, play guitar and capture many of their moments with a photo shoot. To look at those photos now is so precious and the memories will always remain.
Since that day of Rory’s passing many people have suffered loss with the recent floods and devastation. It’s so confronting and jolts us back to thinking about our priorities and raises the best and worst in us as we deal with difficult circumstances. It’s teaches us to know what to let go of and what to hang onto. So with this in mind give your family a hug and show them how much you love them, create some wonderful memories and step out of the box of playing life safe, predictable and comfortable. Change your world and someone else’s, just as Rory did with one smile, word and random, creative act of kindness at a time.
Rory before diagnosis out with my girls, photo by Danica.
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