The day I stopped traffic
Reflections
“During an appropriate gap in the stream of cars and buses, I strode out to the middle of the arterial road and raised both my hands to say, ‘Stop’. ‘This had better work, God,’ I prayed,” shares The Ven. Valerie Hoare, the Diocesan Spiritual Advisor for Cursillo
I was out walking early in the morning, quietly amused by a truck turning off the main road and travelling so far along the side road before the driver realised his truck was too high for the rail bridge ahead. I watched him stop, consider his options, then start backing up. I paced him along the way. We got to the main road – a busy arterial road.
He leant over in the truck’s cab, opened the passenger door and called down, “Can you help?”
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll stop the traffic for you.”
During an appropriate gap in the stream of cars and buses, I strode out to the middle of the arterial road and raised both my hands to say, “Stop”.
“This had better work, God,” I prayed.
Reflecting on the moment as I walked on home, I realised that what I had done was what we’re called to do as Christians and as Cursillistas (people who become part of Cursillo, which is a movement of Christians centred on pilgrimage), apart from the bit about quiet amusement of course – that’s just to let you know that I can be cheekily “not nice”.
We’re called to travel in company with our family, our friends, all people near and far – keeping an eye on them, being present with them through life’s challenges, and serving and resourcing them as we are able. When the time comes to part, we see them on their way to live their own lives.
I’m remembering the story, Jesus Raises the Widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7.11-17). Remember how, as he approached the gates to the town, he noticed a funeral procession – a woman’s only son was being taken for burial. He had great compassion for the widow’s situation – and a great miracle followed. Jesus, indeed, was seen to be God with us.
How and where does Cursillo encourage us to be, to live and to act as God with us? One way is through our Fourth Day Groups, which function as our support and accountability communities. People are invited to join Fourth Day Group following a three-day pilgrimage weekend, recognising that one’s pilgrimage of faith extends beyond the three-day weekend. As a small group of friends, we meet regularly to nurture our commitment to God – to share the way our faith and our commitment to transform our environments for Jesus are being lived out in our daily lives.
Now maybe you’ll never be asked to stop the traffic for a truck. But maybe you’ll pick up someone to take them to church, or invite a lonely person over for a cuppa, or read Bible stories to your children and grandchildren. These are simple everyday things that demonstrate you’re sharing God’s Good News in word or deed.
I encourage anglican focus readers to consider attending a Cursillo half-day event or weekend and to reconnect with Cursillo if you have previously been involved. Our time together is very blessed – so enriching, healing and energising.
Editor’s note: Cursillo members warmly invite anglican focus readers to attend their forthcoming half-day gathering on the Bayside on Saturday 2 July 2022 between 9.15 am and 1.30 pm. The gathering will include fellowship, joyous singing, spiritual reflection and group discussion, with sharing about how God is at work in people’s lives. This event is open to past and present Cursillistas, as well as anyone who wants to find out more about the Cursillo movement. Visit the Cursillo website for more information.
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